Experiences with U.C.I. total knee.

In 200 low friction knee arthroplasties with a minimum follow-up of 2 years the primary goal of relief from pain was accomplished in most patients. However, the evaluation of the result of a knee arthroplasty is difficult. Many of the patients who rated good or better had, to some extent, patellofemoral complaints. Cold flow deformation and prosthetic loosening is a definite concern about the tibial component. A longer follow-up study is needed to better evaluate the significance of the one to 2 mm radiolucent line at the bone cement interface of the tibial component. Collateral and cruciate ligament deterioration with time is also of concern and warrants careful follow-up. Although most patients patients in this series were greatly relieved of pain, even better results might have been obtained if the arthroplasty included the patellofemoral joint and a more substantial tibial component with better fixation. By our rating criteria, rheumatoid patients, in general, were benefited the most. Patients, surgeons and engineers realize that the natural human knee joint is a remarkable product of adaptive evolution, and that it may be imitated with increasing success though it can never be duplicated.