The long term outcome of total knee arthroplasty. The effect of age and diagnosis

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is presently considered as one of the most successful and cost effective procedures in orthopaedic surgery from the perspective of patients, surgeons and third party payers. The clinical benefits of the procedure have long been established in terms of objective and self- reported knee scores as well as quality of life measurements. Advances in implant design, instrumentation and surgical technique have gradually increased the long term survival of TKA. A dramatic rise in the incidence of the procedure has also been documented in the developed world running parallel to the global increase in life expectancy. © Springer-Verlag London 2015.