title: Why are total knee arthroplasties failing today--has anything changed after 10 years?
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and cause of failure after total knee arthroplasty and compare the results with those reported by our similar investigation conducted 10 years ago. A total of 781 revision TKAs performed at our institution over the past 10 years were identified. The most common failure mechanisms were: loosening (39.9%), infection (27.4%), instability (7.5%), periprosthetic fracture (4.7%), and arthrofibrosis (4.5%). Infection was the most common failure mechanism for early revision (<2 years from primary) and aseptic loosening was the most common reason for late revision. Polyethylene (PE) wear was no longer the major cause of failure. Compared to our previous report, the percentage of revisions performed for polyethylene wear, instability, arthrofibrosis, malalignment and extensor mechanism deficiency has decreased.
authors.affiliation: The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: research@rothmaninstitute.com.
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Sharkey
authors.affiliation: The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lichstein
authors.affiliation: The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Anthony T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tokarski
authors.affiliation: The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parvizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057068:Periprosthetic Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011095:Polyethylenes; D011475:Prosthesis Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000639:trends; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes
keywords: failure; knee arthroplasty; revision