Primary stability of tibial plateaus under dynamic compression-shear loading in human tibiae - Influence of keel length, cementation area and tibial stem.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of the tibial keel & stem length in surface cementation, of a full cemented keel and of an additional tibial stem on the primary stability of a posterior stabilised tibial plateau (VEGA® System Aesculap Tuttlingen, Germany) under dynamic compression-shear loading conditions in human tibiae. We performed the cemented tibial plateau implantations on 24 fresh-frozen human tibiae of a mean donor age of 70.7years (range 47-97). The tibiae were divided into four groups of matched pairs based on comparable trabecular bone mineral density. To assess the primary stability under dynamic compression shear conditions, a 3D migration analysis of the tibial component relative to the bone based on displacements and deformations and an evaluation of the cement layer including penetration was performed by CT-based 3D segmentation. Within the tested implant fixation principles the mean load to failure of a 28mm keel and a 12mm stem (40mm) was 4700±1149N and of a 28mm keel length was 4560±1429N (p=0.996), whereas the mean load to failure was 4920±691N in full cementation (p=0.986) and 5580±502N with additional stem (p=0.537), with no significant differences regarding the dynamic primary stability under dynamic compression-shear test conditions. From our observations, we conclude that there is no significant difference between a 40mm and a 28mm tibial keel & stem length and also between a surface and a full cementation in the effect on the primary stability of a posterior stabilised tibial plateau, in terms of failure load, migration characteristics and cement layer thickness including the penetration into the trabecular bone.

Primary stability of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty under dynamic flexion movement in human femora.

BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of a trabecular stem fixation versus a cortical teeth fixation technique on the primary stability of cemented unicompartmental femoral components under dynamic flexion movement loading conditions in human femora. METHODS: Ten fresh-frozen human knees of a mean donor age of 73.9years were used to perform medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty under a less invasive parapatellar surgical approach. The femora were divided into two groups of matched pairs based on comparable trabecular bone mineral density. To assess the primary stability, a new method based on a combination of dynamic flexion movement, double-peak loading simulating stair climbing, kinematic analysis of the femoral component migration relative to the bone and an evaluation of the cement layer by fragments cut through the implant-cement-bone interface in the sagittal plane of the medial condyle was introduced. FINDINGS: For the "trabecular stem fixation" technique the mean load to failure was 2340 (SD 650) N and for "cortical teeth fixation" it was 1080 (SD 455) N, with a substantially enhanced dynamic fixation strength for the "trabecular stem fixation" (p=0.008). In the distal area the cement layer of the "trabecular stem fixation" showed a significant decreased thickness compared to the "cortical teeth fixation" (p=0.029), while a substantially deeper cement penetration (p=0.044) has been achieved for the "trabecular stem fixation". INTERPRETATION: From our observations, we conclude that there is a significantly enhanced primary stability with a "trabecular stem fixation" compared to a "cortical teeth fixation" technique of cemented unicompartmental femoral components, in terms of dynamic failure load and migration characteristics.

Effect of lavage and brush preparation on cement penetration and primary stability in tibial unicompartmental total knee arthroplasty: An experimental cadaver study.

BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental total knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a well-established treatment option for unicondylar osteoarthritis, and generally leads to better functional results than tricompartimental total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, revision rates of UKAs are reported as being higher; a major reason for this is aseptic loosening of the tibial component due to implant-cement-bone interface fatigue. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of trabecular bone preparation, prior to implantation of tibial UKAs, on morphological and biomechanical outcomes in a cadaver study. METHODS: Cemented UKAs were performed in 18 human cadaver knees after the bone bed was cleaned using pulsed lavage (Group A), conventional brush (Group B) or no cleaning at all (Group C, control). Morphologic cement penetration and primary stability were measured. RESULTS: The area proportion under the tibial component without visible cement penetration was significantly higher in Group C (21.9%, SD 11.9) than in both Group A (7.1%, SD 5.8), and Group B (6.5%, SD 4.2) (P=0.007). The overall cement penetration depth did not differ between groups. However, in the posterior part, cement penetration depth was significantly higher in Group B (1.9mm, SD 0.3) than in both Group A (1.3mm, SD 0.3) and Group C (1.4mm, SD 0.3) (P=0.015). The mode of preparation did not show a substantial effect on primary stability tested under dynamic compression-shear test conditions (P=0.910). CONCLUSION: Bone preparation significantly enhances cement interdigitation. The application of a brush shows similar results compared with the application of pulsed lavage.

Biotribology of a vitamin E-stabilized polyethylene for hip arthroplasty - Influence of artificial ageing and third-body particles on wear.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the influence of prolonged artificial ageing on oxidation resistance and the subsequent wear behaviour of vitamin E-stabilized, in comparison to standard and highly cross-linked remelted polyethylene (XLPE), and the degradation effect of third-body particles on highly cross-linked remelted polyethylene inlays in total hip arthroplasty. Hip wear simulation was performed with three different polyethylene inlay materials (standard: γ-irradiation 30 kGy, N2; highly cross-linked and remelted: γ-irradiation 75 kGy, EO; highly cross-linked and vitamin E (0.1%) blended: electron beam 80 kGy, EO) machined from GUR 1020 in articulation with ceramic and cobalt-chromium heads. All polyethylene inserts beneath the virgin references were subjected to prolonged artificial ageing (70°C, pure oxygen at 5 bar) with a duration of 2, 4, 5 or 6 weeks. In conclusion, after 2 weeks of artificial ageing, standard polyethylene shows substantially increased wear due to oxidative degradation, whereas highly cross-linked remelted polyethylene has a higher oxidation resistance. However, after enhanced artificial ageing for 5 weeks, remelted XLPE also starts oxidate, in correlation with increased wear. Vitamin E-stabilized polyethylene is effective in preventing oxidation after irradiation cross-linking even under prolonged artificial ageing for up to 6 weeks, resulting in a constant wear behaviour.

Primary stability of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty under dynamic compression-shear loading in human tibiae.

BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of a single- ("implant only") versus a double-layer ("implant & bone") cementing technique on the primary stability of unicompartmental tibial plateaus under dynamic compression-shear loading conditions in human tibiae. METHODS: Twelve fresh-frozen human knees of a mean donor age of 72.3 years were used to perform medial UKA under a less invasive parapatellar surgical approach. The tibiae were divided into two groups of matched pairs based on comparable trabecular bone mineral density. To assess the primary stability, a new method based on a combination of dynamic compression-shear testing, kinematic analysis of the tibial plateau migration relative to the bone and evaluation of the cement layer by CT-scans and fragments cut through the implant-cement-bone interface in the frontal plane was introduced. FINDINGS: For the "implant only" cementation technique the mean load to failure was 2600 (SD 675) N and for "implant & bone" it was 2820 (SD 915) N. Between the final load level at failure and the bone mineral density a significant correlation was found for the groups "implant only" (r(s) = 0.875) and "implant & bone" (r(s) = 0.907). INTERPRETATION: From our observations, we conclude that there is no significant difference between a single- ("implant only") and double-layer ("implant & bone") cementing technique in the effect on the primary stability of unicompartmental tibia plateaus, in terms of failure load, correlation between final load at failure and bone mineral density, migration characteristics, cement layer thickness and penetration depth.