At the 22nd annual meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons in Dallas, Texas in November 2012, Dr. McCalden, et al., presented the results of a study comparing outcomes in 6708 consecutive patients who underwent primary knee replacement at their hospital in New London, Ontario, Canada. They broke these patients down into 3 groups, 1 less than 55, those 55 to 70, and the third group greater than 70. This study showed that patients in the under 55-year-old group had better clinical outcomes following knee replacement based on objective scoring parameters. However, they had a higher revision rate at 5 and 10 years secondary to the increased activity level in this younger aged group. At 10 year followup the survivorship in the less than 55-year-old group was 92.2% compared to 97.6% of the group over 70. The decreased implant survivorship in the younger age group is a reflection of the increased activity and stress placed on the implant by the younger, more active individuals. Overall good function can be obtained in the younger individual. It is important that they realize that they are at increased risk for revision due to their increased activity level.
—William P. Barrett, MD
