Long-term follow-up of the SKI knee prosthesis

Since the 1970s, the development of total knee replacement has evolved thanks to the incorporation of the low-friction concept and materials proven in the development of total hip arthroplasty during the 1960s. many new designs have been developed since then, all of them in laboratories. the only way to evaluate the function of a design is to evaluate the long-term results thoroughly. this study describes the longterm results of the ski knee prosthesis; this is a prosthesis of the condylar type, with a replaceable polyethylene insert. the condylar type knee prosthesis is mostly used nowadays. the insert of the ski prosthesis is fixed with a screw. one of the main reasons to start this follow-up study was because loosening of this screw was seen in several patients. the ski prosthesis was available in three types. the type with a stabilizing “totalplateau” was originally designed for knees with acl and pcl instability (see figure 1.1c). this type of prosthesis was used as a standard prosthesis in all cases at groningen university hospital from january 1982 to july 1991, with resection of the acl only.