The ratio of the incidence of trochanteric to cervical fractures increased with age in the elderly female population, but the reason for this fact remain unclear.

The purposes of this study were to investigate whether or not there are specificities of the local distribution of mechanical properties at the trochanteric region of the elderly female using a scanning acoustic microscope (SAM). Human proximal femurs were harvested from seven female cadavers (67–88 years) and proximal femur was coronally sectioned into halves across the center of neck. The surface of the coronal section was polished in order to achieve flat surfaces of smoothness well below the surface resolution in scanning with SAM. Bone tissue density and elastic modulus were calculated from the acquired SAM data. Mechanical properties were measured at the lateral and medial trochanter. Cortical bone tissue of the lateral trochanter had significantly lower elastic modulus than that of the medial trochanter in the all specimen over 70s(p<0.05). Trabecular bone tissue of proximal region of the lateral trochanter had significantly lower elastic modulus than that of distal region in all 80s specimens (p<0.05). Decrease of the elastic modulus of cortical bone in the lateral trochanter and low value of the elastic modulus of trabecular bone in the proximal region of the lateral trochanter may be related to the increase of the ratio of trochanteric to cervical fractures with age in the elderly female population.

Introduction: It is difficult to measure the knee kinematics after TKA, navigation system can measure the knee kinematics during TKA operation. The purpose of this study is to describe the knee kinematic analysis in TKA using navigation system.

Patients and methods: TKA kinematics was measured in 24 patients (7 men and 17 women) 27 knees (7 rheumatoid arthritis knees and 20 osteoarthritis knees) in this study. Mean age was 72.8 (55–81). The TKA implant was Vanguard PS (Biomet, Warsaw) and navigation system was Vector Vision Knee ver. 1.6 (BrainLab Inc). All patients were operated using navigation system. This system was CT-based navigation system. We cut the bone independently and released medial collateral ligament, joint capsule and other tight structures to equal the joint balance. Femoral component was implanted parallel to clinical epicondylar line. Kinematic Analysis: We measured the joint gap (mm), coronal alignment (degree), antero-posterior translation (mm) and femoral rotation angle (degree) using navigation workstation just after all prostheses implantation and closure of joint capsule. The patient’s leg was held by operator and moved passively. All joint kinematic data were recorded at every 10 degrees in full range of motion (0 to 130 degrees). The joint gap is the distance between proximal tibial cut surface and that of distal femur (extension range: 0–40) and posterior femur (flexion range: 50–130). Medial and lateral distances were measured.

Results: In extension range, medial joint gap was 21.7mm at 0 degrees and decreased to 15.2mm with knee flexion. Lateral joint gap was 22.1mm at 0 knee extension, slightly decreased up to 40 degrees. Coronal alignment was 0.47 varus at 0 deg. and increased to 6.64 varus at 40 flexion. In flexion range, medial and lateral joint gap were increased 20.7 to 25.3, 17.2 to 31.2mm. Coronal alignment was c hanged from 4.94 valgus (60 flexion) to 8.94 varus (130 full flexion). Regarding to AP translation, femoral component was once moved 7.4 mm forward in early knee flexion and 15.2mm backward with flexion. Femoral components were rotated internally to 50 degrees flexion and then rotated externally with flexion.

Conclusion: The balance of TKA was still varus alignment after soft tissue release. Femoral components were moved backward and external rotation. Our results demonstrated that femoral rollback movement and medial pivot knee motion were recognized. The limitation of this study was the situation of under anesthesia and no muscle strain were loaded during the measurement of knee kinematics. However navigation system is available not only for the accurate implantation but also the measurement of intra operative knee kinematics.