Imaging of Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a commonly employed treatment for knee osteoarthritis that cannot be managed successfully with conservative measures. Good and excellent outcomes in greater than 90% of patients have been reported from many independent centers at long-term follow-up, and long-term prosthesis survival rates are greater than 90%. Although surgical techniques and implant designs continue to improve, the potential for complications will remain. While traditionally implanted in an elderly population, TKAs are now increasingly used in younger patients, many under 60 years of age (Ravi et al., Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 26:637–47, 2012). The number of patients requiring imaging evaluation of their TKAs will likely increase. Moreover, the placement of TKAs in younger individuals and longer life expectancies have resulted in an increase in the incidence of revision TKA.