This study presents the results of 1188 original and innovative posteriorly stabilized TKA procedures in which the femoral bone stock is preserved with a shallow compartment insofar as possible. The TKA procedure is directly derived from Insall’s original technique, except for the posterior stabilisation design, where a third median condyle starts working at 30° of knee flexion. A total of 1188 primary TKA procedures were consecutively performed in a university hospital. Average follow-up was 30 months (0–168 months). The implants were cemented (except for 35 femoral components) and the patella resurfaced (except for nine cases). Clinical results were assessed using the IKS Score. The quality of the implantation was analysed on long-leg X-rays (1175 preoperative and 883 postoperative long-leg films available at follow-up). The results showed that 95% of patients were very satisfied or at least satisfied. Knee score and functional scores were 44 and 54 preoperatively and 90 and 78 postoperatively. Mean range of motion was 116°. On X-ray analysis, the average mechanical femorotibial angle was 179° postoperatively. Survival of the implant for revision was 94.2% at 14 years. We performed 83 re-operations (nine patellar fractures, 14 infections, 12 cases of stiffness and 11 clunck syndromes), including 33 component revisions. Clinical results compared favourably with the literature. This original posterior stabilisation design confirmed the good and excellent results at follow-up. We obtain good range of motion, and no revision was due to polyethylene wear.
Nineteen patients aged 16–50 years with a single osteochondral lesion or osteochondritis dessicans involving the femoral condyle but who had no other knee anomaly were included in this trial. The graft was inserted via an arthrotomy. Patients were examined preoperatively then at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after grafting. The main evaluation criteria was improvement in the IDCD score (ICRS item) at 24 months. Secondary evaluation criteria were MRI and arthroscopic aspect associated with biopsy of the repaired tissue performed at 24 months.
We reviewed 195 knees in 167 patients at least 20 years after a rim-preserving meniscectomy. They were considered in two groups: 102 knees had had an intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and 93 had had an unrepaired rupture. More patients with a ruptured ACL had downgraded their sport activity by five years after meniscectomy. The incidence of radiographic osteoarthritis was about 65% at 27 years in patients with a ruptured ligament, and 86% in those followed up for over 30 years. In the ligament-deficient group 10% had had operations for osteoarthritis, and another 28% had had other operations, mainly further meniscectomies. Only 6% of those with an intact ligament had needed a second operation after meniscectomy and at long-term follow-up 92% of them were satisfied or very satisfied. Only 74% of the ligament-deficient patients were satisfied with their result. The long-term outcome after rim-preserving meniscectomy depends mainly upon the state of the anterior cruciate ligament.