Changes in knee motion over the first 3 years with a mobile-bearing prosthesis

Knee. 2006 Aug;13(4):301-6. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2006.04.007. Epub 2006 Jun 22.

Abstract

The present work aims to evaluate the mobility of the polyethylene bearing in 25 patients implanted with a mobile-bearing PCL-retaining TKR (Interax ISA, Striker Howmedica) under in vivo, weight-bearing conditions over 3 years' follow-up. We compared the bearing motion in response to specific tests in two consecutive follow-ups with Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis (RSA). Results showed that polyethylene continued to displace on the tibial baseplate over time: longitudinal rotations and medio-lateral translations tended to increase at the second follow-up (mean increases 0.7+/-2.5 degrees and 0.34+/-1.08 mm, respectively), while sagittal translations did not show any relevant change. Longitudinal rotations and AP translations were preserved when present at both follow-ups. Nevertheless, no statistical evidence of repeatable pattern of motion was found, since bearings frequently reversed their pattern of motion between the two follow-ups. The unconstrained polyethylene mobility resulted in an unrepeatable, erratic pattern of bearing motion intra-patient and over time. The changes in knee motion were found not to affect the clinical results over the first 3 years of follow-up. As in a fixed-bearing design, mobile-bearing design was not able to reproduce normal knee kinematics.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Knee Prosthesis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Photogrammetry
  • Polyethylene
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Weight-Bearing*

Substances

  • Polyethylene