Causes of unsatisfactory results of arthroplasty of the knee joint osteoarthritis in long-term postoperative period: literature review

Abstract

In Russia and globally, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been increasingly performed. The high quality of implants, improvement of arthroplasty technologies, and accumulated practical experiences of surgeons did not considerably reduce the frequency of complications and unsatisfactory operative outcomes. The negative consequences of knee replacement are determined both intraoperatively and postoperatively. This review aimed to analyze the literature on the frequency and complications of knee arthroplasty and their causes in the long-term postoperative period. In recent decades, the number of patients who are not satisfied with TKA outcomes has been increasing. Moreover, information about complications, their frequency, their causes, and possibilities of preventing negative consequences remains contradictory. Surgical treatment of complications requires particular attention, with surgical site infections as the most common. Recent studies highlight the important of evaluating surgical site infections during and after TKA, especially for deep infectious complications after TKA, which leads to hospitalizations, and reoperations. To date, many studies have investigated early postoperative complications leading to negative consequences in the long-term postoperative period. In addition, in the absence of postoperative complications, the service life of the implant is limited, and unsatisfactory TKA outcomes were attributed to wear and tear of the endoprosthesis. Domestic and international studies about premature or unreasonable TKA, as one of the reasons for negative osteoarthritis treatment outcomes, are increasing. The discussion about the indications and contraindications for knee arthroplasty continues. This literature review discusses the current state of this topic.