Comparison of the Mobile-bearing and Fixed-bearing Designs for High Flexion Total Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We compared and analyzed the follow-up results of high flexion total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with using the mobile-bearing and fixed-bearing designs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 130 patients who had undergone high-flexion TKA from December 2003 to December 2007 and who were followed up for at least 2 years. Of all the 130 patients, 65 patients had undergone TKA using a mobile-bearing design, and the other 65 patients had undergone TKA using the fixed-bearing design. RESULTS: The post-operative Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS) and Knee Society Functional Score (KSFS) of the mobile-bearing group were 95.6 and 96.1 points, which were 53.2 and 49.7 points, respectively, preoperatively, and the post-operative KSKS and KSFS of the fixed-bearing group were 94.5 and 95.1 points, which were 54.1 and 50.9 points, respectively, preoperatively. The range of motion (ROM) and maximal flexion angle (MFA) of the knee joints of the mobile-bearing group were 129.1degrees and 131.4degrees, which were 122.3degrees and 125.8degrees, respectively, preoperatively, and those of the fixed-bearing group were 128.3degrees and 129.3degrees, which were 122.2degrees and 123.9degrees, respectively, preoperatively. There were no significant differences between the two groups. Crossed-legged sitting and attaining a kneeling position also showed no significant differences between the two groups, but the mobile-bearing group could easily take a crossed-legged sitting position. CONCLUSION: The clinical parameters and the ROM and MFA of the knee joint showed no significant differences between both groups, but the mobile-bearing group felt more comfortable in the crossed-legged sitting position.