Aims

Modern total knee arthroplasty (TKA) prostheses are designed to restore near normal kinematics including high flexion. Kneeling is a high flexion, kinematically demanding activity after TKA. The debate about design choice has not yet been informed by six-degrees-of-freedom in vivo kinematics. This prospective randomized clinical trial compared kneeling kinematics in three TKA designs.

Aims

Enhanced perioperative protocols have significantly improved patient recovery following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Little has been investigated the effectiveness of these protocols for revision TKA (RTKA). We report on a matched group of aseptic revision and primary TKA patients treated with an identical pain and rehabilitation programmes.

Aims

The aim of this study was to establish the results of isolated exchange of the tibial polyethylene insert in revision total knee arthroplasty (RTKA) in patients with well-fixed femoral or tibial components. We report on a series of RTKAs where only the polyethylene was replaced, and the patients were followed for a mean of 13.2 years (10.0 to 19.1).

We assessed the effect of social deprivation upon the Oxford knee score (OKS), the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) and patient satisfaction after total knee replacement (TKR). An analysis of 966 patients undergoing primary TKR for symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) was performed. Social deprivation was assessed using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Those patients that were most deprived underwent surgery at an earlier age (p = 0.018), were more likely to be female (p = 0.046), to endure more comorbidities (p = 0.04) and to suffer worse pain and function according to the OKS (p < 0.001). In addition, deprivation was also associated with poor mental health (p = 0.002), which was assessed using the mental component (MCS) of the SF-12 score. Multivariable analysis was used to identify independent predictors of outcome at one year. Pre-operative OKS, SF-12 MCS, back pain, and four or more comorbidities were independent predictors of improvement in the OKS (all p < 0.001). Pre-operative OKS and improvement in the OKS were independent predictors of dissatisfaction (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). Although improvement in the OKS and dissatisfaction after TKR were not significantly associated with social deprivation per se, factors more prevalent within the most deprived groups significantly diminished their improvement in OKS and increased their rate of dissatisfaction following TKR.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:52–8.

We present the results of 17 children of Tanner stage 1 or 2 who underwent reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament between 1999 and 2006 using a transphyseal procedure, employing an ipsilateral four-strand hamstring graft. The mean age of the children was 12.1 years (9.5 to 14). The mean follow-up was 44 months (25 to 100). Survival of the graft, the functional outcome and complications were recorded. There was one re-rupture following another injury. Of the remaining patients, all had good or excellent results and a normal International Knee Documentation Committee score. The mean post-operative Lysholm score was 97.5 (sd 2.6) and the mean Tegner activity scale was 7.9 (sd 1.4). One patient had a mild valgus deformity which caused no functional disturbance. No other abnormality or discrepancy of leg length was seen. Measurements with a KT1000 arthrometer showed no significant difference between the normal and the operated legs.

In this small series, transphyseal reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament appeared to be safe in these young children.

Injury to the common peroneal nerve was present in 14 of 55 patients (25%) with dislocation of the knee. All underwent ligament reconstruction. The most common presenting direction of the dislocation was anterior or anteromedial with associated disruption of both cruciate ligaments and the posterolateral structures of the knee. Palsy of the common peroneal nerve was present in 14 of 34 (41%) of these patients. Complete rupture of the nerve was seen in four patients and a lesion in continuity in ten.

Three patients with lesions in continuity, but with less than 7 cm of the nerve involved, had complete recovery within six to 18 months. In the remaining seven with more extensive lesions, two regained no motor function, and one had only MRC grade-2 function. Four patients regained some weak dorsiflexion or eversion (MRC grade 3 or 4). Some sensory recovery occurred in all seven of these patients, but was incomplete. In summary, complete recovery occurred in three (21%) and partial recovery of useful motor function in four (29%). In the other seven (50%) no useful motor or sensory function returned.

We present the first study in vivo of meniscal movement in normal knees under load. Using an open MR scanner, allowing imaging in physiological positions in near to real-time, 16 young footballers were scanned moving from full extension to 90° flexion in the sagittal and coronal planes. Excursion of the meniscal horns, radial displacement and meniscal height were measured.

On weight-bearing, the anterior horn of the medial meniscus moves through a mean of 7.1 mm and the posterior horn through 3.9 mm, with 3.6 mm of mediolateral radial displacement. The height of the anterior horn increases by 2.6 mm and that of the posterior horn by 2.0 mm. The anterior horn of the lateral meniscus moves 9.5 mm and the posterior horn 5.6 mm, with 3.7 mm of radial displacement. The height of the anterior horn increases by 4.0 mm, and that of the posterior horn by 2.4 mm. In non-weight-bearing, the anterior horn of the medial meniscus moves 5.4 mm and the posterior horn 3.8 mm, with 3.3 mm of radial displacement. The anterior horn of the lateral meniscus moves 6.3 mm, and the posterior horn 4.0 mm, with 3.4 mm of radial displacement. The most significant differences between weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing were the movement and vertical height of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus.

We studied 40 patients in whom the patella was not severely deformed and who were undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis by one surgeon using one type of prosthesis. They were randomly allocated either to have the patella retained or resurfaced with a cemented, all-polyethylene component regardless of the state of the patellar articular cartilage. Apart from removal of osteophytes, no surgery was undertaken on the retained patellae. All 38 surviving patients were evaluated at three years using the HSS knee score and a new, specifically designed Patellar score (maximum score of 30). No TKA was revised, but two patients in the resurfacing group had a further unrelated procedure.

The mean HSS and Patellar scores at follow-up were 89 and 28 in the patellar retention group and 83 and 26 in the patellar resurfacing group. Statistically significant lower scores for both were recorded in women and in heavier patients. Stair-climbing ability was significantly better in the retention group. Although there were no complications related to patellar resurfacing, in the medium term we did not find any significant benefit from resurfacing the patella during TKA for osteoarthritis if it was not severely deformed.