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A 10-year survivorship of 100% was reported for patients with PFC cruciate-retaining prostheses. Beyond 10 years, we observed additional polyethylene wear likely related to thin liners gamma-irradiated in air and were concerned this wear might predispose to implant construct failure. We therefore determined (1) the functional scores at a minimum of 15 years followup, (2) rates of radiographic failure, (3) overall revision rates, and (4) mode of failure after 10 years and the fate of the revised implants. We retrospectively reviewed 75 patients with 101 press-fit condylar posterior cruciate-retaining prostheses. At a minimum followup of 15 years, 35 patients (47 knees) were living and evaluated clinically. No patients were lost to followup. There were no revisions during the first 11 years and six reoperations subsequently were performed in five patients (6% overall rate of revision but 12.8% in patients who survived more than 15 years). Three of six revisions had concerning liner wear at 10 years and all six were revised for polyethylene wear. Polyethylene exchange was performed in four of the five patients who underwent revisions, all of whom were doing well at an average of 7.2 years (range, 4.7–9.1 years) after the revision procedure. At long-term followup, the overall revision rate remained low (6%). For patients surviving 15 years or more, the rate of revision was 12.8% and all revisions were secondary to aseptic sequelae of polyethylene wear. All revisions occurred more than 10 years after the initial procedures. Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Patients who do not return for follow-up after total knee arthroplasty are often assumed to have had a worse outcome. We postulated that the Internet may be useful for locating patients who do not return for follow-up. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between patients who attended prescribed postoperative appointments and those who did not. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes for 161 patients (200 knees) at a minimum of five years after a total knee replacement. All patients who had had no contact of any type with their surgeon in any manner beyond six months following the date of the surgery were classified as not having returned for follow-up. When patients could not be located with use of all available information in their chart, a standardized Internet search algorithm was employed with use of readily available and free search engines. Results: Thirty patients with thirty-five treated knees met the definition of not returning for follow-up. Thirteen patients could not be located with use of the contact information given at their last visit. All were located with use of the Internet. None of the patients had had knee surgery elsewhere. The reasons for not adhering to the prescribed postoperative regimen were identified. The group had improved Knee Society pain and function scores compared with the preoperative values, and the patients were not significantly different from those who did return for follow-up. Conclusions: The patients who did not attend follow-up appointments in this series had not had any additional surgery and did not have any significant differences in measured outcome variables when compared with patients who had complied with a follow-up protocol. The Internet proved to be a valuable tool for locating patients who had not returned for follow-up postoperatively.