Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a self aligning unidirectional mobile bearing TKR on lateral patella release rates within a knee system using a common femoral component for both the fixed and mobile variants.
Methods and Results: A total of 357 patients undergoing TKR were randomly allocated to receive either a Mobile Bearing (181 knees) or a Fixed Bearing (176 knees) PSTKR. Further sub-randomisation into patella resurfacing or retention was performed for both designs. The need for lateral patella release was assessed during surgery.
The lateral release rate was similar for fixed bearing (9%) and mobile bearing (9%) implants (p=0.95). Patella resurfacing resulted in lower lateral release rates when compared to patella retention (5.5% vs 13.5%; p=0.012). This difference was most marked in the mobile bearing group where the lateral release rate was 16% with patella retention compared to 3% with patella resurfacing (p=0.009).
Conclusion: The addition of a rotating platform tibial component has had no impact on the lateral release rate in this study. Optimising patella geometry by patella resurfacing appears more important than tibial bearing deisgn per se. The combination of a mobile bearing design and patella resurfacing appears the optimise patello-femoral tracking.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Tim Wilton, BASK at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
