The operation probably lasts for 5-7 years if successful. The ultimate solution for osteoarthritis of the knee is to replace the joint surfaces with an artificial knee joint. The main reason that orthopedic surgeons are reluctant to perform the surgery on younger individuals, is that the younger the patient, the more likely the artificial joint will fail during the patient's lifetime. Replacing the knee again, a process called a revision , is much harder, has more potential complications and is less likely to be successful. Artificial knee joints last about 12 years in an elderly population.
Younger patients are more active and place more stress on the artificial joint.
This can lead to loosening and failure of the artificial knee earlier after surgery. Obviously, younger patients are also more likely to outlive their artificial joint, and will almost surely require a revision at some point down the road. It is for these reasons that orthopedic surgeons are usually reluctant to recommend a total knee replacement in the younger patient until there are simply no other options. A more in depth discussion of Artificial Knee Replacement is available as a separate document.