Managing of post-traumatic knee arthritis by total knee arthroplasty: case series of 15 patients and literature review

Purpose

Post-traumatic arthritis is one of the leading causes of joint disability. This study aims at outlining outcomes of total knee arthroplasty in post-traumatic arthritis and technical difficulty and reviewing literature regarding this issue

Patients and methods

We analyzed the outcome of total knee arthroplasty following post-traumatic arthritis in 15 patients with unilateral involvement. Ten had stable arthritic knees treated with posterior stabilized (PS) prosthesis, while five with unstable arthritic knees treated as follows: three with ligamentous instability managed by constrained condylar prosthesis and two with osseous deficiency, metal augmentation used together with stemmed constrained condylar prosthesis (CCK). Average follow-up 6 years, mean age 49.8 years at time of arthroplasty. Patient outcomes were evaluated on the basis of Knee Society score.

Results

Mean clinical knee society scores (CKSS) at latest follow-up improved from 43.6 ± 11.66 points to 77.3± points postoperatively while mean functional knee society score (FKSS) improved from 40. ± 6.3 to 76.6 ± 84 postoperatively. Patients with stable knees had a higher mean values, both clinical and functional KSS, while unstable knees were poorer. Complications occurred in three cases, one with wound dehiscence with prolonged drainage treated by antibiotics and daily dressings until the wound closed completely, one was complicated by infection and improved by serial debridement, and the third case had aseptic loosening which required revision surgery.

Conclusion

Total knee arthroplasty for post-traumatic arthritis decreases pain and improves knee function. However; the procedure is not as simple as primary arthroplasty as it is technically demanding and requires adequate planning.