Mid- to long-term outcomes of contemporary total knee arthroplasty in Charcot neuroarthropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective procedure to treat many patients with end-stage knee arthropathy. However, the extension of TKA for patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy (CNA) is controversial, with relatively limited evidence defining optimal reconstruction techniques.

This systematic review of relevant studies that were published from January 2000 to June 2020 aimed to define survivorship, complications, reoperation, and component revision rates of contemporary TKA performed for CNA.

We identified 127 TKA performed for CNA in five studies that comprised ≥ 7 knees with ≥ 5 years of follow-up.

Overall implant survivorship was 85.4%. The overall complication rate was 26.4%, with the most common complications including instability (24.0%), periprosthetic fracture (17.4%), infection (13.0%), ligament injury (10.9%) and aseptic loosening (10.9%).

The aetiology of CNA and prosthesis type had no influence on clinical outcomes, whereas the effect of staging of disease and ataxia status was still inconclusive.

Understanding the potential determinants, survivorship and risk of complications related to TKA performed in CNA may help surgeons to deal with patient expectations.