The Rotaflex total knee replacement--a 5 year review.

We report the results of a retrospective analysis of 43 patients who received 56 Rotaflex total knee arthroplasties, with a mean follow-up of 55.7 months. The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) knee assessment protocol was used in evaluating the clinical results. Two patients could not receive post-operative scores. In the remaining 54 knees, the mean pre-operative score was 25.6, improving to 30.8 post-operatively. Ten knees showed a decrease in knee score, two were unchanged and 42 improved. The greatest improvements were in pain relief and maximum flexion. Wound infection and dehiscences were common, the latter requiring further surgery in five cases. Later, there were eight fractures involving the prosthesis, seven dislocated or subluxed patellae, two deep infections and three cases of severe aseptic loosening. A common feature was severe patellar wear, due to the design fault of an absent femoral groove. The high rate of complications and poor functional result of the Rotaflex knee preclude its use in current practice.