50 Years Ago in CORR: Arthrodesis of the Knee Joint F. H. Moore and I. S. Smillie CORR;13:215–221

Excerpt

This month’s symposium is devoted to papers presented at the closed and open meetings of The Knee Society during the past year. All but one of those papers relate to total knee arthroplasty in one way or another. Given the overwhelming preponderance of knee degeneration as a cause of pain and disability in older adults compared to other knee afflictions, total knee arthroplasty now dominates all surgical discussions about adult knee reconstruction. Shortly after its introduction in the early 1970s, it replaced virtually all other forms of reconstruction. However, for many disabled patients, surgeons prior to that time had to determine which of a number of far less reliable and more disadvantageous procedures to recommend, if any. In the Classic Article in this month’s issue we highlight an exploration of this dilemma with a paper from 1918 exploring the various forms of arthroplasty available at the time [1]. Allison and Brooks concluded: “…it is to be emphasized that the results of all known operative methods for the relief of joint ankylosis are at best most often unsatisfactory. In general the hip, elbow and jaw results are fairly good. The results of arthroplasties on the knee joint are the least satisfactory. Every patient should, previous to operation, be clearly and frankly as possible told of the impossibility of restoration of complete normal joint function, and that the most he can hope for is improvement after a long and tedious treatment.” …