Clinical and radiological results of femoral head structural allograft for severe bone defects in revision TKA — A minimum 8-year follow-up

Proper treatment of bone loss is essential for the long term durability of revision TKA. However, the method of choice in managing large bone defects is still under debate. We therefore assessed the mid to long term clinical and radiographic results of revision TKA using a fresh frozen femoral head allograft and a standard condylar implant or varus–valgus constrained prosthesis with a diaphyseal-engaging stem.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 27 patients who had undergone revision TKA between August 1997 and March 2003 using a fresh frozen femoral head allograft and a standard condylar implant or varus–valgus constrained prosthesis with a diaphyseal-engaging stem. The median follow-up period was 107 months (range, 96–157 months).

Clinical evaluation revealed that the mean range of motion had increased from 71° to 113° and the mean Hospital for Special Surgery knee score had improved from 46 to 83 points. The overall tibio-femoral angle improved from varus 7.3° to valgus 6.l°. In 26 out of 27 knees, union was demonstrated at an average of seven months postoperatively, and there were no cases of collapse, disease transmission or stress fractures. In one knee, an infection recurred.

Our results demonstrate that femoral head allografts in treatment of severe bone defects are reliable and durable. If possible, less constrained prostheses with diaphyseal-engaging stems should be chosen for increased durability.

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.