Abstract
Resection arthroplasty was done as a salvage procedure in four cases of infected total knee replacements. All patients were women. Two patients had multiarticular rheumatoid arthritis and two had osteoarthritis. The patients were followed for an average of three years and ten months (range, six months to six years). Knee function was evaluated using the JOA (Japanese Orthopaedic Association) knee score. The mean JOA score for RA knees was 56 and 58 points in OA knees. All patients could walk with one or two canes. Three patients could walk without pain, and two of them did not need a brace. However the remaining pain-free patient and a patient who experienced pain while walking needed both canes and a brace. We concluded that resection arthroplasty was an efficient salvage procedure for treating infected total knee replacements in patients who were not suitable for re-implantation.
