All-polyethylene vs. metal-backed tibial component in total knee arthroplasty-a randomized RSA study comparing early fixation of horizontally and completely cemented tibial components: part 1. Horizontally cemented components: AP better fixated than MB

• BACKGROUND: Controversy still exists as to whether to mount the tibial bearing on a metal baseplate or not. Furthermore, the tibial component can be either horizontally or completely cemented. We evaluated metal backing versus all-polyethylene using horizontal cementing technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomized 40 patients with knee arthrosis (40 knees) to 2 groups: cemented total knee arthroplasty (AGC, Biomet) using either all-polyethylene (AP) or metal-backed (MB) tibial components (n = 20 for each group). All tibial implants had a total thickness of 8 mm. We used proximal cement-ing, including only the horizontal part of the tibia with avoidance of the stem-bone interface. RESULTS: The positioning of the implants, as judged by the HKA angle, showed an average neutral alignment in both groups. Preoperatively and after 2 years, there was no statistically significant difference between the HSS scores in both groups (p = 0.6 and 0.4). After 2 years, the metal-backed components had rotated more around the longitudinal axis, median 0.5 degrees vs. 0.2 degrees (internal or external rotation, p = 0.002), and showed increased maximum total point motion, median 1.0 vs. 0.4 mm (maximum migration or MTPM, p = 0.003). INTERPRETATION: Our study indicates that better fixation can be obtained with the all-polyethylene design if proximally cemented thin components are used.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Aged

*Arthroplasty

Replacement

Knee/instrumentation/methods

Bone Cements

Cementation

Female

Humans

Knee Joint/radiography

*Knee Prosthesis

Male

Metals

Middle Aged

Osteoarthritis

Knee/surgery

Polyethylenes

Prosthesis Design

Range of Motion

Articular

*Tibia

Treatment Outcome

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)