The clinical history of mobile-bearing patella components in total knee arthroplasty.

Two hundred fifty-six primary cementless meniscal-bearing total knee arthroplasties were performed between May 1985 and January 1989. All knees were replaced with a low contact stress metal-backed anatomic mobile patella. The average patient follow-up was 11.5 years. No patellae were revised for failure of fixation and no dislocations or subluxations were reported. One patella was revised for polyethylene wear, and one well-functioning component was removed at the time of revision to facilitate range of motion and wound closure. The survival estimate at 12 years was 99.5%. Compared to the high incidence of failure of metal-backed fixed-bearing patellae components, the anatomic rotating patella provides durable long-term results with a low incidence of complications.