Severe distal femoral bone loss and instability in revision TKA is challenging. We retrospectively reviewed 39 rotating-hinged
distal femoral replacement devices in 37 patients to examine whether improved results were obtainable, using one design, over
previously published results. The average age of the patients was 76 years (standard deviation, 10 years). Indications for
distal femoral replacement included 11 revision TKAs, 13 periprosthetic fractures, 11 reimplantations, two complex primary
TKAs, one distal femoral nonunion, and one acute distal femur fracture. Minimum followup was 24 months (mean, 46 months; range,
24–109 months). Eight patients died during followup. There were five reoperations: two patients with recurrent infection after
two-stage treatment, one patient with a periprosthetic fracture treated by open reduction and internal fixation, one patient
with late hematogenous infection, and one patient with bearing exchange to treat hyperextension. No failures from aseptic
loosening were seen. Knee Society scores improved from 39 preoperatively to 87, and pain scores improved from 18 preoperatively
to 43. Distal femoral prosthetic replacement with a tumor-type implant in severe cases provides excellent pain relief and
function with a low short-term reoperation rate and an implant survivorship rate of 87% at 46 months.
Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
One or more of the authors (KRB, AVL) have received institutional research funding, consulting income, from a commercial interest
related to the subject of this manuscript (Biomet, Inc, Warsaw, IN).
Each author certifies that his institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations
were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study
was obtained.