Abstract
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most highly successful orthopaedic procedures
performed in North America. It is also one of the most common procedures performed,
and its incidence continues to increase. Despite this, it is the opinion of many that
patients of advanced age groups are not ideal candidates to undergo such procedures
secondary to the concern over higher complication rates and poorer functional outcomes.
This review article attempts to analyze the current body of literature concerning
TKA outcomes and to evaluate some of the issues that are more specific to this population
when they undergo TKA. It is our hypothesis that the literature does not support this
popular misconception, and that older patients who do not have significant medical
comorbidities are good candidates to undergo primary TKA. However, certain cohorts
of this population are not ideal candidates to undergo this procedure. Also, certain
joint reconstructive procedures, such as simultaneous and staged bilateral TKA, are
higher risk procedures in this patient cohort.
Keywords
TKA - age - elderly - outcomes - complications
