Aims. To fully quantify the effect of posterior tibial slope (PTS) angles on joint kinematics and contact mechanics of intact and
Appropriate soft tissue balance is an important factor for postoperative function and long survival of total knee arthroplasty(TKA). Soft tissue balance is affected by ligament release, osteophyte removal, order of soft tissue release, cutting angle of tibial surface and rotational alignment of femoral components. The purpose of this study is to know the characteristics of soft tissue balance in ACL deficient osteoarthritis(OA) knee and warning points during procedures for TKA. We evaluated 139 knees, underwent TKA (NexGen LPS-Flex, fixed surface, Zimmer) by one surgeon (S.A.) for OA. All procedures were performed through a medial parapatellar approach. There were 49 ACL deficient knees. A balanced gap technique was used in 26 ACL deficient knees, and anatomical measured technique based on pre-operative CT was used in 23 ACL deficient knees. To compare flexion-extension gaps and medial- lateral balance during operations between the two techniques, we measured each using an original two paddles tensor (figure 1) at 20lb, 30lb and 40lb, for each knee at a 0 degree extension and 90 degree flexion. We measured bone gaps after removal of all osteophytes and cutting of the tibial surface, then we measured component gaps after insertion of femoral components. Statistical analysis was performed by t-test with significant difference defined as P<0.05.INTRODUCION
METHODS
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have several properties that may support their use as an early treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigated the role of multiple injections of allogeneic bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) to alleviate the progression of osteoarthritic changes in the various structures of the mature rabbit knee in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient OA model. Two months after bilateral section of the ACL of Japanese white rabbits aged nine months or more, either phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or 1 x 106 MSCs were injected into the knee joint in single or three consecutive doses. After two months, the articular cartilage and meniscus were assessed macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistochemically using collagen I and II.Aim
Materials and Methods
With medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis (OA) there is occasionally a full-thickness ulcer of the cartilage on the medial side of the lateral femoral condyle. It is not clear whether this should be considered a contraindication to unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR). The aim of this study was to determine why these ulcers occur, and whether they compromise the outcome of UKR. Case studies of knees with medial OA suggest that cartilage lesions on the medial side of the lateral condyle are caused by impingement on the lateral tibial spine as a result of the varus deformity and tibial subluxation. Following UKR the varus and the subluxation are corrected, so that impingement is prevented and the damaged part of the lateral femoral condyle is not transmitting load. An illustrative case report is presented. Out of 769 knees with OA of the medial compartment treated with the Oxford UKR, 59 (7.7%) had partial-thickness cartilage loss and 20 (2.6%) had a full-thickness cartilage deficit on the medial side of the lateral condyle. The mean Oxford Knee Score (OKS) at the last follow-up at a mean of four years was 41.9 (13 to 48) in those with partial-thickness cartilage loss and 41.0 (20 to 48) in those with full-thickness loss. In those with normal or superficially damaged cartilage the mean was 39.5 (5 to 48) and 39.7 (8 to 48), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the pre-operative OKS, the final review OKS or of change in the score in the various groups. We conclude that in medial compartment OA, damage to the medial side of the lateral femoral condyle is caused by impingement on the tibial spine and should not be considered a contraindication to an Oxford UKR, even if there is extensive full-thickness ulceration of the cartilage.
