Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: Tibial component failure has been a problem in total knee arthroplasty, it is still undetermined how tibial resection depth affects the strength to support a tibial component. This study examined the relationship between the resection depth and the bone density and the mechanical strength to support the tibial component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight matched pairs of fresh, frozen cadaver lower legs were imaged with computed tomography to assess the bone density. A right tibia was resected at minimum resection level and a left tibia was resected at deep resection level. After the tibial component was implanted with cement on each tibia, it was loaded on a materials testing load frame to measure the stiffness and the load to failure. RESULTS: The average bone density at the minimum resection level of the tibia was significantly higher than at deep level (p=0.0003). The average stiffness and load to failure of the proximal tibia were 1105 N/mm (range 889 to 1303 N/mm) and 5626 N (range 3360 to 9098 N). There was no statistical correlation between tibial resection depth and the axial stiffness (p=0.4107) or the load to failure (p=0.1487). CONCLUSIONS: Although the bone density at a minimum resection level was higher than that at a deep level, the strength to support the tibial component was not statistically higher at a minimum cutting level than at a deeper cutting level proportionally. Surgeons may not need to minimize a proximal tibial bone resection to maintain a stronger support for a tibial component.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Surg technol int

Publication Date

12/10/2017

Volume

31

Pages

170 - 176

Keywords

Aged, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee, Biomechanical Phenomena, Bone Density, Female, Humans, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Male, Models, Biological, Tibia