A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) was used to investigate the stability of the tibial component in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Twenty patients were implanted with a Howmedica Duracon UNI prosthesis (Limerick, Ireland) and studied for an average follow-up of 30 months. In most cases, the displacements detected at 1-year follow-up were small (ie, not exceeding 0.5 mm for translations and not exceeding 1.0 degrees for rotations). Only 1 patient showed signs of mechanical loosening as the prosthesis continued to migrate, reaching 3.2 mm of total motion at 4-year follow-up. RSA did not show any deformation in the polyethylene except for the case of loosening. The clinical results were excellent and good according to the Hospital for Special Surgery scoring system. No correlation was found among demographic, clinical, and RSA data.     

Estimation of the migration of tibial components in total knee arthroplasty. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis

Accurate quantitative measurements of micromovement immediately after operation would be a reliable indicator of the stability of an individual component. We have therefore developed a system for measuring micromovement of the tibial component using three non-contact displacement transducers attached to the tibial cortex during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Using this system we measured the initial stability in 31 uncemented TKAs. All the tibial components were fixed by a stem and four screws. The initial stability was defined as the amount of displacement when a load of 20 kg was applied. The mean subsidence was 60.7 microm and the mean lift-off was 103.3 microm. We also studied the migration of the tibial component using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) for up to two years after operation. Most migration occurred during the first six months, after which all prostheses remained stable. We defined migration as the maximum total point motion (MTPM) at two years after operation. The mean migration was 1.29 mm at two years. Our results show that there was a significant correlation between the initial stability and migration (p < 0.05) and emphasise the importance of the initial stability of the tibial component.     

Subsidence of porous coated noncemented femoral components in total hip arthroplasty. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis.

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis was used in the evaluation of subsidence in nine noncemented femoral components of the Biomet Taperloc prosthesis. After 2 years three components had subsided 0.7-0.9 mm. No distinct symptoms related to the micromotion appeared. The subsidence in this investigation was smaller than the reported subsidence of other noncemented prostheses.     

Early loosening of revision hip arthroplasty. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis

The primary migration of 15 and 22 cemented acetabular and femoral prosthetic components was recorded in 23 patients operated because of type I (minimal endosteal bone loss) and type II (thinning of bone, enlargement of femoral canal and acetabulum) mechanical loosening. Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis was used to measure the three-dimensional displacements of the center of the acetabulum and the femoral head. All but 1 of the acetabular and 1 of 15 revised femoral stem prostheses migrated within 2 years after the operation, whereas 5 of 7 revised femoral surface arthroplasties were stable. Femoral components with type II loosening migrated, on average, 1.5 mm (range, 0.6-3.0 mm) during the first postoperative year, compared with 0.7 mm (range, 0.3-1.1 mm) in patients with type I loosening (P less than .02). Increased bone loss of the acetabulum (type II), the quality of the bone-cement interface as judged from radiographs, and the presence of perforation of the femoral cortex did not significantly influence the rate of migration in this group. Compared with previously presented studies of cemented primary hip prostheses, cemented revisions seem not only to migrate more frequently but also at a higher rate. Poor primary fixation is probably one important cause of the high frequency of clinical failures in these patients.     

Range of motion in total knee arthroplasty. A computer analysis

A three-dimensional computer model of the knee was formulated based on sectional and coordinate data from knee specimens. The model was consistent with published data in terms of contact points and ligament length patterns. Prosthetic components were designed, and surgical placement was simulated. Maximum flexion was limited by tension in the posterior cruciate ligament. Increased dishing of the tibial surface reduced flexion, but some dishing was considered necessary for reduction of contact stresses. Anteroposterior translation of the tibial component had little effect on flexion. Femoral translation had some offset, and posterior positioning reduced flexion. The most important surgical variable was tibial component tilt in the sagittal plane. Posterior tilt increased motion, while anterior tilt decreased motion. The results apply to the choice of total knee system, instrument design, and surgical technique.     

Micromotion between the half bearings in the interax prosthesis: A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis

We assessed the migration and movement between the half-bearings of the Interax prosthesis in 18 patients using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA). This study showed movements of the tibial component even in successful knee arthroplasty: 17 prostheses migrated only initially and remained stable after 1 year, whereas 1 prosthesis migrated consistently throughout 3-year follow-up. RSA revealed no or minimal displacement between the half-bearings until the 4-year follow-up, confirming that their fixation to the baseplate was adequate. In the case of loosening, a rotation about the longitudinal axis of 1.3 degrees and a medial-lateral translation of 0.5 mm was observed between the half-bearings. Cold flow was revealed by RSA in the posterior region of the medial half-bearing.     

Polyethylene damage and knee kinematics after total knee arthroplasty.

This study characterizes the relationship between in vivo knee kinematics and polyethylene damage by combining fluoroscopic analysis of tibiofemoral contact during dynamic activities and implant retrieval analysis in the same patients. Six patients (eight knees) underwent posterior cruciate ligament-retaining total knee arthroplasty. All patients participated in fluoroscopic analysis during a stair-rise and descent activity and treadmill gait an average of 18 months after arthroplasty, and articular contact was measured. Subsequently, all polyethylene tibial inserts were retrieved after an average of 26 months in vivo function: three at autopsy and five at revision. There was a statistically significant correlation between the damage location on the retrieved inserts and the articular contact location measured fluoroscopically during the activities. The femoral contact and polyethylene damage occurred predominantly on the posterior half of the tibial articular surface, and the damage pattern was largest in the compartment with the greatest range of in vivo femoral contact for each patient. This study showed that in vivo fluoroscopic analysis can predict the damage location on the polyethylene articular surface.     

Subsidence of the femoral component in the noncemented total hip. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis was used in the evaluation of subsidence in eight noncemented femoral components of the HP-Garches prosthesis. After 2 years, seven components had subsided 0.6-3.9 mm, i.e., more than observed in some cemented prostheses. No distinct symptoms related to the micromotion appeared.     

Design and kinematics in total knee arthroplasty

Purpose

Posterior stabilised (PS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) design development that focused on restoring normal knee kinematics was followed by the introduction of reason-guided motion designs. Although all PS fixed-bearing knee designs were thought to have similar kinematics, reports show they have differing incidences and magnitudes of posterior femoral rollback and axial rotation. In this retrospective comparative study between two guided-motion total knee systems, we hypothesised that kinematic pattern has an influence on clinical and functional outcomes.

Methods

This study represents the continuation of a previously reported clinical and kinematics analysis. We retrospectively reviewed 347 patients treated with two different TKA designs: Scorpio NRG (Stryker Orthopedics) and Journey Bi-Cruciate Stabilised (BCS) knee system (Smith & Nephew). Two hundred and eighty-one patients were assessed clinically. Patients were divided into groups according to implanted TKA. Clinical evaluation with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire was performed. Fifteen Scorpio NRG and 16 Journey BCS patients underwent video fluoroscopy during stair climbing, chair rising/sitting and step up/down at six months of follow-up.

Results

At an average 29 months of clinical follow-up, patients with Journey BCS TKAs reported better clinical results. Stiffness was more frequently reported in the Journey group (5.2 % vs 1.2 %), whereas anterior knee pain was observed in the Scorpio NRG group (1.9 %) only. Both prosthetic models reported different posterior translation of the medial and lateral contact points (CP) in all analysed motor tasks during knee flexion (BCS 10–18 mm; NRG Scorpio 2–3 mm). Both designs produced progressive external rotation of the femoral component relative to the tibia during flexion.

Conclusions

Journey BCS showed statistically significant better KOOS results. The higher posterior femoral rollback observed in the kinematic assessment of this design, associated with a better patellofemoral design, may be the reason for better clinical outcome. The reported cases of stiffness and anterolateral joint pain could be attributed to excessive medial and lateral tibiofemoral posterior translation. The NRG group demonstrated good axial rotation, but this was not coupled with physiological kinematic patterns. Patellofemoral pain can be explained by a less friendly femoral-groove design. TKA clinical–functional outcome and complications were highly influenced by the bearing geometry and kinematic pattern of prosthetic designs.     

Patellar prosthesis positioning in total knee arthroplasty. A roentgenographic study

Patellar prosthesis positioning in 40 primary total knee replacements was evaluated with regard to (1) patellar tilt, (2) angle between the patellar component and patellar bony remnant, (3) lateral versus medial placement, (4) patellar height, and (5) size of the patellar component versus patellar length. Two different designs were evaluated. Twenty knees that were resurfaced with a patellar button prosthesis and implanted with conventional surgical technique constituted Group A. Twenty knees that were resurfaced with a new biconvex prosthesis and implanted with specially designed instrumentation constituted Group B. For Group A, the patellar tilt averaged 4.25 degrees preoperative and 8.35 degrees postoperative. For Group B the patellar tilt averaged 4.60 degrees preoperative and 1.83 degrees postoperative. In Group B, there was significant improvement in patellar position, with only two patients showing values exceeding the neutral range (p = 0.0409). The angle between the patellar component and the bony remnant in Group A averaged 5.975 degrees, and in Group B, 1.447 degrees. Two patients in Group A and 18 patients in Group B had values in the normal range for patellar tilt and the angle between the prosthesis and the bone. The prosthesis was inserted medial to the patellar center in six patients in Group A and one patient in Group B. A significant decrease in patellar height was noted for both groups, but values were still within the normal range. Both groups showed significant increase in the postoperative articular length, indicating that oversized prostheses were inserted and excess bone removed.     

The effect of a stem on the tibial component of knee arthroplasty. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric study of uncemented tibial components in the Freeman-Samuelson knee arthroplasty

We studied the effect of a metal tray with an intramedullary stem on the micromotion of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty. Of 32 uncemented Freeman-Samuelson knee arthroplasties performed in London and Gothenburg, nine had a metal backing and stem added to the tibial component. Micromotion of the tibial components, expressed as migration and inducible displacement, was analysed using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis up to two years follow-up. The addition of a metal back and a 110 mm stem to the standard polyethylene component significantly reduced both migration over two years and inducible displacement.     

Knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE: To identify factors related to knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty in a Chinese population. METHODS: Records of 242 total knee arthroplasties were retrospectively reviewed. The parameters evaluated were age, gender, diagnosis, preoperative knee flexion and extension, preoperative flexion arc, tibiofemoral angle, Knee Society knee score and functional score, and implant design. RESULTS: Advanced age, female gender, and good preoperative flexion and flexion arc were related to better postoperative flexion. Postoperative flexion tended to migrate to the middle range despite different ranges of preoperative flexion. Preoperative tibiofemoral malalignment had no significant effect on postoperative flexion. CONCLUSION: Contemporary designs of posterior stabilised prostheses with right and left femoral components were superior to older designs.     

Knee strength after total knee arthroplasty

Fifty-two knees in normal healthy subjects and 32 knees more than 2 years after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were evaluated. Average isometric extension peak torque values in TKA patients were reduced by up to 30.7% (P=.01). Isometric flexion peak torque values in patients with TKA were, on average, 32.2% lower than those from control subjects throughout the motion arc (P=.004). Knee Society Functional Scores were positively correlated to the average isometric extension peak torque (r=0.57; P=.004) and negatively correlated to the average isometric hamstring to quadriceps (H/Q) ratio (r=-0.78, P<.0001). Relatively greater quadriceps strength was associated with a better functional score. Older TKA patients (>/=70 years) generated lower isometric extension peak torque values in terminal extension than younger TKA patients (>24.2%; P=.05). Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with relative quadriceps weakness (r=0.44; P=.007). These results suggest that more thorough rehabilitation after TKA would improve functional outcomes.     

In vivo kinematics of mobile-bearing knee arthroplasty in deep knee bending motion.

The current study aimed to analyze kinematics during deep knee bending motion by subjects with fully congruent mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasties allowing axial rotation and anteroposterior (AP) gliding. Twelve subjects were implanted with Dual Bearing Knee prostheses (DBK, slot type: Finsbury Orthopaedics, Surrey, UK). These implants include a mobile-bearing insert that is fully congruent with the femoral component throughout flexion and allows axial rotation and limited AP translation. Sequential fluoroscopic images were taken in the sagittal plane during loaded knee bending motion. In vivo kinematics were analyzed using a two- to three-dimensional registration technique, which uses computer-assisted design models to reproduce the spatial position of femoral and tibial components from single-view fluoroscopic images. The average femoral component demonstrated 13.4 degrees external axial rotation for 0-120 degrees flexion. On average, the medial condyle moved anteriorly 6.2 mm for 0-100 degrees flexion, then posteriorly 4.0 mm for 100-120 degrees flexion. On average, the lateral condyle moved anteriorly 1.0 mm for 0-40 degrees flexion, then posteriorly 8.7 mm for 40-120 degrees flexion. The typical subject exhibited a lateral pivot pattern from extension to 60 degrees flexion and a central pivot pattern from 60 degrees to 100 degrees flexion, patterns that are not usually observed in normal knees. Subsequently from 100 degrees to 120 degrees flexion, a rollback pattern was reproduced in which bilateral condyles moved backward.     

Frontal plane kinematics after mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty.

Frontal plane kinematics including condylar lift-off and medial to lateral translation were investigated in 10 patients who had total knee arthroplasty with a mobile-bearing rotating platform or a similar implant that had been modified with a posterior stabilizer. The rotating platform had condylar lift-off (average, 2 mm) and medial tibial translation (average, 4.3 mm) in all implants tested. The posterior-stabilized prosthesis had significantly less condylar lift-off (average, 1.2 mm) and medial translation (average, 1.7 mm). The difference is attributed to constraint of the posterior stabilizer mechanism in the frontal plane. The important kinematic functions of frontal plane condylar lift-off and medial to lateral translation must be accounted for by contemporary total knee prosthetic designs because abnormalities may lead to abnormal wear and loss of prosthetic fixation.     

Mobility of the lateral malleolus. A roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis

In nine children and adolescents, the motion of the distal fibula in relation to the tibia was measured by roentgen stereophotogrammetry. Between the extremes of ankle flexion, the fibular epiphysis moved on average 1.4 mm.     

不同类型假体全膝关节置换术后的运动学分析

目的观察以后稳定型、固定平台保留后十字韧带型和移动平台保留后十字韧带型假体行全膝关节置换术(TKA)后膝关节最大屈曲度,及膝关节屈曲过程中股骨假体相对胫骨假体的前后移动距离,探讨屈膝时股骨的前后移动对膝关节最大屈曲度的影响。方法选取以三种类型假体行TKA术的病例各25例,均为膝骨性关节炎;TKA术后效果优良,膝关节屈曲≥90°,术后1年以上。患者年龄63～77岁,平均68岁;男32膝,女43膝。后稳定型组、固定平台组及移动平台组术前膝关节最大屈曲度分别为77.8°±15.1°、80.1°±12.9°和76.4°±12.7°。术后拍摄膝伸直位和最大被动屈曲位侧位X线片,测量膝关节从伸直位至最大屈曲位时股骨假体相对胫骨假体的前后移动距离及膝最大屈曲度。结果三组术前屈膝度差异无显著性。后稳定型组、固定平台组和移动平台组术后最大屈曲度分别为118.0°±7.1°、108.7°±7.9°和100.2°±8.3°,三组差异有非常显著性(F=32.86,P=0.0001)。三组术后股骨假体相对胫骨假体前后移动距离分别为(6.3±2.5)mm、(?1.2±4.6)mm和(?4.7±3.7)mm(向后移为正值,向前移为负值),三组差异有非常显著性(F=57.71,P=0.0001)。股骨假体相对胫骨假体前后移动距离与膝最大屈曲度间存在相关性,股骨假体前移会使膝最大屈曲度减小。结论三