The use of cement in revision total knee arthroplasty

Metaphyseal Fixation in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

➢ Bone defect management is challenging, but essential, in revision total knee arthroplasty.➢ Appropriate metaphyseal fixation is crucial for stability and implant support.➢ Allografts have been traditionally used to address large defects, but the advent of highly porous metaphyseal cones and sleeves has attracted attention during the past years.➢ Metaphyseal implants are now available in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet various clinical needs.➢ These devices can successfully fill large defects, can better support revision implants, and can achieve long-term biologic fixation.➢ Very good intermediate-term outcomes have been reported with the available metaphyseal implants, using fully cemented or press-fit stems.➢ More research is warranted to further assess surgical indications and the strengths and weaknesses of the various implants used for metaphyseal fixation.

Long-term survival of fully cemented stem in re-revision total knee arthroplasty performed on femur with diaphyseal deformation due to implant loosening

PURPOSE

The study aims to analyze long-term clinical and radiographic results, and survival of re-revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using fully cemented stems performed on femurs with diaphyseal deformation.

METHODS

Thirty-seven re-revision TKAs using fully cemented stems performed in femoral diaphyseal deformations, characterized as diaphyseal canal enlargement and cortex deformation due to aseptic loosening of previously implanted stems, between 2003 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 10.0 years. Clinically, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated. Radiographically, mechanical axis (MA) and component positions were measured. Complications and survival rates were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Clinically, the WOMAC significantly improved at final follow-up (61.2 vs 47.2, p < 0.001), but not the ROM (95.5 vs 102.5, p = 0.206). Radiographically, the MA and component positions were appropriate, with no changes in component positions from immediately post-operative to final follow-up, but with MA change from varus 2.9° to 3.7° (p = 0.020). Two cases (5.4%) with history of previous infections developed periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Debridement with polyethylene insert exchange following antibiotic suppression were performed in those cases because of concern for difficult implant-cement removal. The five and ten year survival rates were 100% and 93.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Fully cemented stems are viable in providing long-term satisfactory survival after re-revision TKA in patients with femoral diaphyseal deformation. However, it should be used carefully for those with previous infections.

Management of bone loss in revision total knee arthroplasty: therapeutic options and results

The treatment of small to moderate size defects in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) has yielded good results with various techniques (cement and screws, small metal augments, impaction bone grafting and modular stems). However, the treatment of severe defects remains problematic.Severe defects have typically been treated with large allograft and metaphyseal sleeves. The use of structural allograft has decreased in recent years due to increased long-term failure rates and the introduction of highly porous metal augments (cones and sleeves).A systematic review of level IV evidence studies on the outcomes of rTKA metaphyseal sleeves found a 4% rate of septic revision, and a rate of septic loosening of the sleeves of 0.35%. Aseptic re-revision was required in 3% of the cases. The rate of aseptic loosening of the sleeves was 0.7%, and the rate of intraoperative fracture was 3.1%. The mean follow-up was 3.7 years.Another systematic review of tantalum cones and sleeves found a reoperation rate of 9.7% and a 0.8% rate of aseptic loosening per sleeve. For cones, the reoperation rate was 18.7%, and the rate of aseptic loosening per cone was 1.7%.The reported survival of metal sleeves was 99.1% at three years, 98.7% at five years and 97.8% at 10 years. The reported survival free of cone revision for aseptic loosening was 100%, and survival free of any cone revision was 98%. Survival free of any revision or reoperation was 90% and 83%, respectively. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1073-1086. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210007.