Abstract
Introduction: The majority of total knee systems available on the market were designed to accommodate limited flexion up to 130 degrees only, which does not satisfy many patients. The LPS Flex was designed to accommodate deep flexion safely (up to 160 degree of flexion). This is the first paper to report the clinical results of 108 TKA using the LPS flex system.
Material and methods: 108 surgeries were preformed on 86 patients from September 1999 to March 2001. All patients were treated for advanced degenerative arthritis. All surgeries were done by one surgeon. The Subvastus approach was used in all cases. Pre-op and post-op ranges of motion were documented. Patients who had over 145 degree of flexion and were able to sit on the ground (calf touching thigh) for at least one minute were considered to have full flexion. Statistical analyses were carried out on the data at University of Dundee.
Results: Full range of motion was obtained in 76 TKA. All these cases had a full movement preoperatively range of motion except for 5 cases. Complication rate were similar to those reported in other series. There were no complications that could be attributed to the ability to fully flex the knee. Full flexion was found to be the same in patients who had simultaneous bilateral total knee and those who had it on only one side.
Conclusion: LPS flex knee design offers a good option for patients who have good preoperative range of motion. The ability to fully flex the knee is important in certain cultures and in active patients of the western society. Our preliminary results show that there was no risk associated with deep flexion.
The abstracts were prepared by Nico Verdonschot. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
