The Posterior Cruciate Condylar Total Knee Prosthesis

Abstract

Remarkable results were demonstrated for the nonlinked, semiconstrained total condylar knee prosthesis in the first long-term follow-up study. The posterior cruciate condylar prosthesis, a variation of the basic design, leaves the posterior cruciate ligament intact. Ninety-four consecutive knees were observed for a minimum postoperative follow-up period of five years. Apart from this design modification and a slightly different program of postoperative care, the methods and techniques used were identical to those used with the total condylar knee prosthesis. By the same method of assessment (The Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Rating Scale), 54 of the ninety-four knees (57.4%) were rated excellent; 37 (39.4%), good; two (2.1%), fair; and one (1.0%), poor. The average preoperative score was 48 points, and the average postoperative score was 81 points (85-100 points = excellent). The posterior cruciate condylar total knee prosthesis represents an excellent prosthetic design for a wide variety of knee deformities and maintains the posterior cruciate ligament for supplementary posterior support.