ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: A new method has been devised to determine contact pressures in prosthetic components. A real time analysis of the contact pressure distribution could help fine tuned implant positioning and ligament balancing during Total Knee Arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior cruciate reserving type procedures were done with externally rotated femoral cut. Femorotibial contact pressure was measured in four compartments in both flexion and extension position. A LOAD CELL located beneath the tibial plate changes the contact pressure into electric signal and DP-41S transformed the electric sign into the pressure unit. Adjunctive fine-tuning operation was done to approximate the equilibrium among the four compartments of the tibial plate. RESULTS: Femorotibial contact pressure were distributed between 17.1 N (Newton) to 33.4 N (average 23.6 N). A peak contact pressure was exhibited in the anteromedial compartment in extended knee and in the posterolateral compartment in flexed knee. CONCLUSION: A LOAD CELL electronic transducer technique was introduced. This method was tried to get the balanced equilibrium of contact pressure between Femorotibial components during TKA.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty , Knee , Ligaments , TransducersABSTRACT
No abstract available.
