The Methuselah Knee Implants

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The Methuselah Knee Implants
Biloine W. Young • Sat, Feb 26th, 2011

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After 20 years of use, total knee replacements are still trucking. John B. Meding, M.D. of the St. Francis Medical Group, Beech Grove, Indiana, evaluated 1,757 total knee replacements (TKR) that had been implanted between 1975 and 1989. He found that 128 of the patients, whose average age was 82, were still living. Despite the fact that their implants were 20 or more years old, none had experienced implant failures after 20 years of follow-up. Ninety-five of the patients were able to walk at least five blocks.
The Knee Society knee score of the 128 patients averaged 78, the walking score was 37 and the pain scores averaged 49. The function score was 70 which the researchers attributed to an average stair score of 35. The authors wrote, “Although aging may cause a gradual decline in physical activity after TKR, improved functional outcomes continue over the long term. Our results indicate that this group of patients demonstrates remarkable functional capacity over 20 years after the index arthroplasty.” Their conclusion was that patients who underwent total knee replacement had improved outcomes, even 20 years after the original surgery. The research was presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Diego.