The knee

Abstract

• Attacks of rheumatoid arthritis are twice as common in the knee joint as in the hip joint, • Synovectomy usually has good effects on pain, swelling, and mobility, and there are advantages in using arthroscopic methods. • Arthroplasty usually involves the use of a tricompartmental prosthesis, and approximately 400 prosthetic procedures are performed annually in Sweden. • The use of tricompartmental prostheses, modern instruments, and appropriate soft tissue management nearly eliminates the need for hinged prostheses. • Patellar components have no effects on pain relief or function. • Rehabilitation is usually lengthy, but uncomplicated. The ultimate effects on mobility and pain cannot be assessed before one year postoperatively. • A low rate of loosening is reported in arthroplasty that involves the use of a tricompartmental prosthesis, and the total cumulative revision risk is 10% after 10 years. • Knee prostheses are modified often. Hence, the models used in studies with reasonable followup times are usually no longer available on the market.