15-year follow-up study of total knee arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

In 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 36 cases of cemented Kinematic total knee arthroplasty were reviewed clinically and radiographically at 13 to 19 years after surgery. The mean age at the time of surgery was 51.6 +/- 8.9 years. According to the follow-up results evaluated with the Hospital for Special Surgery knee scoring system, 28 knees (77.7%) were classified as good or excellent. The mean flexion angle at follow-up evaluation was 99 degrees +/- 24 degrees (10 degrees -140 degrees ). At the tibial or femoral bone-cement interfaces, a radiolucent line was seen in 10 of 36 knees (27.8%) at follow-up evaluation. The survival rate of prostheses with revision as the endpoint was estimated to be 93.7% at 15 years. Kinematic total knee arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis patients provided a good long-term outcome.