Does joint line elevation after revision knee arthroplasty affect tibio-femoral kinematics,contact pressure or collateral ligament lengths? An in vitro analysis

Introduction

Correct restoration of the joint line is generally considered as crucial when performing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). During revision knee arthroplasty however, elevation of the joint line occurs frequently. The general belief is that this negatively affects the clinical outcome, but the reasons are still not well understood.

Material and methods

In this cadaveric in vitro study the biomechanical consequences of joint line elevation were investigated using a previously validated cadaver model simulating active deep knee squats and passive flexion-extension cycles. Knee specimens were sequentially tested after total knee arthroplasty with joint line restoration and after 4 mm joint line elevation.

Results

The tibia rotated internally with increasing knee flexion during both passive and squatting motion (range: 17° and 7° respectively). Joint line elevation of 4 mm did not make a statistically significant difference. During passive motion, the tibia tended to become slightly more adducted with increasing knee flexion (range: 2°), while it went into slighlty less adduction during squatting (range: –2°). Neither of both trends was influenced by joint line elevation. Also anteroposterior translation of the femoral condyle centres was not affected by joint line elevation, although there was a tendency for a small posterior shift (of about 3 mm) during squatting after joint line elevation. In terms of kinetics, ligaments lengths and length changes, tibiofemoral contact pressures and quadriceps forces all showed the same patterns before and joint line elevation. No statistically significant changes could be detected.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that joint line elevation by 4 mm in revision total knee arthroplasty does not cause significant kinematic and kinetic differences during passive flexion/extension movement and squatting in the tibio-femoral joint, nor does it affect the elongation patterns of collateral ligaments. Therefore, clinical problems after joint line elevation are probably situated in the patello-femoral joint or caused by joint line elevation of more than 4 mm.     

Droplet formation and scaling in dense suspensions

When a dense suspension is squeezed from a nozzle, droplet detachment can occur similar to that of pure liquids. While in pure liquids the process of droplet detachment is well characterized through self-similar profiles and known scaling laws, we show here the simple presence of particles causes suspensions to break up in a new fashion. Using high-speed imaging, we find that detachment of a suspension drop is described by a power law; specifically we find the neck minimum radius, r(m), scales like near breakup at time τ = 0. We demonstrate data collapse in a variety of particle/liquid combinations, packing fractions, solvent viscosities, and initial conditions. We argue that this scaling is a consequence of particles deforming the neck surface, thereby creating a pressure that is balanced by inertia, and show how it emerges from topological constraints that relate particle configurations with macroscopic Gaussian curvature. This new type of scaling, uniquely enforced by geometry and regulated by the particles, displays memory of its initial conditions, fails to be self-similar, and has implications for the pressure given at generic suspension interfaces.     

TM种植体-骨结合界面的显微CT观察

目的 研究TM种植体-骨结合界面及其上 1/3倒楔形间隙的成骨情况.方法 用医用钝钛钛棒加工成两组种植体,实验组为锥度5.44°、表面进行喷砂酸蚀处理的TM种植体,锥度从种植体上1/3处开始变化;对照组为仿straumann的表面喷砂酸蚀(sandblast large grit and acid-etching,SLA)圆柱状螺纹种植体.建立Beagle犬下颌骨种植模型,3只犬每只植入实验组TM种植体和对照组仿straumann -SLA圆柱状螺纹种植体各4枚,3只实验犬分别于4周、8周和12周处死,截取下颌骨行显微CT三维重建,观察种植体-骨结合界面及上1/3间隙的成骨情况.结果 8周时实验组TM种植体上1/3倒楔形间隙开始有骨修复,12周时对照组仿straumann-SLA种植体颈部骨质有吸收迹象,实验组TM种植体颈部骨质仍得到良好保存.结论 TM种植体能形成良好骨结合界面,体部上1/3的锥度设计可保存颈部皮质骨.     

TMD患者咬合接触情况与牙弓宽度的测量分析

目的：通过测量和比较正常人群与TMD患者在牙尖交错位时的咬合接触情况及牙弓宽度情况,探讨这2个解剖特征与TMD发病的相关性。方法：收集120个临床病例分为2组,A组TMD患者50例,B组正常人群（对照组）70例,通过对2组人群的咬合接触情况、牙弓宽度进行测量分析,探讨这2个解剖特征与TMD发病的相关性。结果：牙尖交错位时,TMD患者的无咬合接触牙齿数高于正常人群;牙弓宽度较正常人群窄（P﹤0.05）。结论：TMD发病与咬合接触少,牙弓宽度窄这2个解剖特征有关。     

Displacement of Dental Implants in Trabecular Bone under a Static Lateral Load in Fresh Bovine Bone

Aim: The study aims to provide objective data for the displacement of titanium screw implants in trabecular bone specimens. One hundred Semados implants (Bego, Bremen, Germany) were inserted in bovine type IV bone specimens. All implants had a diameter of 3.75 mm; 50 implants had a length of 8.5 mm and 50 implants had a length of 15 mm. Insertion torque was determined at intervals of 10, 20, and 30 Ncm. Implants were loaded horizontally with 10, 20, and 30 N for 2 seconds. An indicator strip was attached to the implant abutment to allow direct observation of implant movement relative to the bone surface. Horizontal displacement was assessed with an accuracy of measurement of 10 µm. Seven implants got lost by visible loosening. Degree of displacement was subject to evaluation with all others. Those implants showed a mean displacement of 59 µm for 10 N (n = 100), 173 µm for 20 N (n = 99), and 211 µm for 30 N (n = 93). The mean displacement of 15‐mm implants (16, 37, 51 µm) was significantly lower compared with 8.5‐mm implants (103, 311, 396 µm) corresponding to 10, 20, and 30 N as lateral loads. Conclusions: Displacement of screw implants in trabecular bone can be detected and visualized using commercially available endoscopes with a high magnification. A lateral load of 20 N indicates a mean displacement of over 100 µm and therefore results in a critical displacement.