A Conservative Approach to Knee Joint Replacement

Abstract

A knee joint system is described which consists of a bicondylar prosthesis and a set of stereotactic instruments. The prosthesis has been developed from Gunston's concept, and the special instruments ensure its accurate insertion through a pair of short meniscectomy type incisions placed either side of the patella. Particular features of the prosthesis are near normal articulation, and the simple operative procedure involved.

Forty knee replacements were implanted in thirty-two patients during the period October 1972 to March 1975. Postoperatively twenty-seven knees were pain free, and nine others produced only slight pain. Full extension was obtained in thirty-four knees, and zero valgus/varus deformity in thirty-seven. Collateral laxity was absent in thirty-four knees. There were three ultimate failures (8 per cent). Nineteen knees were assessed as excellent (48 per cent), and sixteen as good (40 per cent), and two only fair (5 per cent). These early results are most encouraging.