Introduction

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) preservation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is adovocated on the grounds that it provides better restoration of knee joint kinematics as opposed to PCL sacrifice. Mobile-bearing (MB) total knee prostheses have been in the market for a long time, but the PFC-Sigma Rotating Platform (RP) prosthesis (DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc, Warsaw, Ind) has been introduced in the market since 2000. Since, little is known about the in vivo kinematics of MB prostheses especially with cruciate retaining (CR). The objective of this study is to investigate the in vivo kinematics of MB RP-CR total knee arthroplasty during weight-bearing deep knee bending motion.

Patella resection has been the least controlled element of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We have developed an intraoperative guide system involving a custom-made surgical template designed on the basis of a three-dimensional computer simulation incorporating computed tomography (CT) data for several years. This time we have applied this intraoperative guide system for the patella resection in TKA. We investigated the accuracy of CT-based patient-specific templating (PST) for patella resection using cadaveric knee joints in vitro.

To plan the corrective patella resection, we attempted to simulate a three-dimensional patella resection with the use of computer models of the patella. From CT images of the patella we obtained three-dimensional surface models of the patella by performing a three-dimensional surface generation of the bone cortex. After the patella resection using CT-based custom-made surgical templating instrumentation, CT scan was performed again and we compared the patella shape in three-dimensional patella bone model reconstructed from pre and after cut from CT data. We compared the accuracy of patella cut using three-dimensional patella bone model reconstructed from pre and after cut from CT data. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t test.

The difference between patella cut with CT-based custom-made surgical templating instrumentation and pre-operative planning were 0.8±1.2mm (medial side) and 0.1±1.4mm (lateral side). More than 60% resulted within 2mm from the pre-operative planning. There were significant differences both in flexion/extension, external/internal rotation and bone cut depth between CT-based custom-made surgical templating instrumentation and conventional instrument.

The results in this study demonstrated the usefulness of CT-based custom-made surgical templating instrumentation for patella resection in TKA.

Introduction

Regarding TKA, patient specific cutting guides (PSCG), which have the same fitting surface with patient's bones or cartilages and uniquely specify the resection plane by fitting guides with bones, have been developed to assist easy, low cost and accurate surgery. They have already been used clinically in Europe and the USA. However little has been reported on clinical positioning accuracy of PSCG. Generally, the methods of making PSCG can be divided into 3 methods; construct 3D bone models with Magnetic Resonance (MR) images, construct 3D bone models with Computed Tomography (CT) images, and the last is to construct 3D bone models with both MR and CT images. In the present study, PSCG were made based on 3D bone models with CT images, examined the positioning accuracy with fresh-frozen cadavers.

Background

Various postoperative evaluations using fluoroscopy have reported in vivo knee flexion kinematics under weight bearing conditions. This method has been used to investigate which design features are more important for restoring normal knee function. The objective of this study is to evaluate the kinematics of a Low Contact Stress total knee arthroplasty (LCS TKA) in weight bearing deep knee flexion using 2D/3D registration technique.

Background

Mobile-bearing (MB) total knee prostheses have been developed to achieve lower contact stress and higher conformity compared to fixed-bearing total knee prostheses. However, little is known about the in vivo kinematics of MB prostheses especially the motion of the polyethylene insert (PE) during various daily performances. And the in vivo motion of the PE during stairs up and down has not been clarified. The objective of this study is to clarify the in vivo motion of MB total knee arthroplasty including the PE during stairs up and down.

Background

Mobile-bearing (MB) total knee prostheses have been developed to achieve lower contact stress and higher conformity compared to fixed-bearing total knee prostheses. However, little is known about the in vivo kinematics of MB prostheses especially about the kinematics of polyethylene insert (PE). In vivo motion of PE during squatting still remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the in vivo motion of MB total knee arthroplasty including PE during squatting.