Introduction and Aims: Good clinical outcome can be expected following cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) provided there is early stability and bone ingrowth. Screws give excellent initial stability but provide a path for osteolysis. Screws also cause an irregularity of the tibial component surface which limits their use as a mobile bearing component. We hypothesise that early stability can be obtained with four peripheral pegs rather than screws. We present the results of such a tibial component at a minimum of two years in a cementless mobile-bearing TKA.

Materials and Methods: We evaluated 200 knees in 173 patients. The average age at surgery was 72 years (range, 45–91 years) with 61% of cases in women. Patients were followed up for an average of 45.7 months (range 24 to 69 months). All radiographic and clinical scores were performed prospectively and recorded on a relational database. The components used were the cementless Low Contact Stress femoral component with the DuoFix MBT tibial tray (Depuy, Warsaw, Indiana, USA). The tibial tray was manufactured from cobalt-chrome with a central polished stem and four peripheral pegs. The underside, including the pegs, had a porous surface coated with 50 microns of hydroxyapatite.

Results: After excluding patients who had died, or lost to follow up, 164 cases had a minimum 2-year follow-up. None of the tibial components have required revision. One patient (0.6%) required revision of the femoral component at 22 months for failure of bone ingrowth. There was one superficial infection which resolved with intravenous antibiotics. Two patients developed deep infections (1.2%) which resolved with arthroscopic lavage and antibiotics. One patient presented with bearing spin out at 3 months following surgery, and an exchange to a thicker tibial insert was performed. Average flexion at follow up was to 110°. The patients stated that they were satisfied with their knees in 141 out of 155 cases (91%). The mean score for pain at rest was 0.9 (0–10) and for activity related pain was 1.3. The average HSS score was 86/100 with 90% good or excellent results, compared with a preoperative score of 54/100. Lucent lines were seen in one tibial zone in ten knees (7%), and two zones in three knees (2.1%). There were lucent lines in one femoral zone in 13 cases and two zones in two cases. None of the lines were progressive, and all the surviving components were bone ingrown. Osteolysis was present in a single zone around one (0.7%) tibial component. One patient showed some femoral osteolysis in one zone (0.7%) and also had patellar osteolysis in one zone. Two patients had osteolysis in a single zone of the patella.

Conclusion: This study shows that this design of mobile bearing tibial component provides good primary stability and bone ingrowth.