Femoral revision knee Arthroplasty with Metaphyseal sleeves: the use of a stem is not mandatory of a structural point of view

Metaphyseal Metal Sleeves for Reconstruction of Severe Knee Bone Defects: Excellent Survival Rate at a Mean Follow-Up of 6.4 Years

OBJECTIVE

Management of bone loss in complex primary and revision total knee arthroplasty is key to the surgeries. Metaphyseal metal sleeves have been increasingly used recently to reconstruct severe knee metaphyseal bone defects. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of the metaphyseal sleeve reconstructing Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute (AORI) type II and type III bone defects of knee joint.

METHODS

From 2014 to 2019, a total of 44 knees were enrolled in this clinical retrospective study after the screening, including seven cases of primary TKA and 37 cases of revision TKA. The types of bone defects involved in this study were AORI types II and III, and did not involve AORI type I bone defects. Patients' knee function preoperatively and postoperatively as well as quality of life were recorded and analyzed. Analysis included the American Knee Society Score (KSS), hospital for special surgery knee score (HSS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index, the Short Form 12 (SF-12) health survey, visual analogue scale score, and radiographic assessment with a mean follow-up of 6.4 years. Paired t-tests were used to determine the significance of changes in clinical scores and knee mobility.

RESULTS

A mean follow-up of 77.2 (±17.6, standard deviation [SD]) months was performed, and none of the patients underwent knee revision for infection or aseptic loosening. At the last follow-up, the KSS knee score changed statistically from 37.1 (±19.7) preoperatively to 86.5 (±13.6, SD, p < 0.001) postoperatively and the KSS function score from 32.7 (±24.0) preoperatively to 78.3 (±15.6, SD, p < 0.001) postoperatively. The knee mobility improved from a mean of preoperative 72.61° (±33.42°, SD) to 108.52° (±24.15°, SD, p < 0.001). Postoperative radiographs showed that the host bone was tightly integrated with the metaphyseal metal sleeve, and there was no obvious translucent line formation around the sleeve. Of the patients, 86.4% had a postoperative satisfaction score ≥8 (10-point scale).

CONCLUSION

At the mean follow-up of 6.4 years, the survival rate of the metaphyseal sleeves was 100%. Metaphyseal sleeves combined with cementless stems is an excellent and viable option for reconstruction of AORI type II and type III bone defects of the knee.

Stability of Three-Dimensional Printed Custom-Made Metaphyseal Cone for Tibial Bone Defects Reconstruction: A Finite Element Analysis and Biomechanical Study

OBJECTIVES

The reconstruction of bone defects in tibial revision knee arthroplasty is challenging. In this study, we evaluated the primary stability of a novel three-dimensional (3D)-printed custom-made metaphyseal cone for Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute (AORI) IIb or III bone defect reconstruction in tibial revision knee arthroplasty using the combination of finite-element analysis and biomechanical experiments.

METHODS

In the finite-element analysis, AORI II b and III medial tibial bone defects were designed at varying depths. A novel 3D-printed custom-made metaphyseal cone was designed and used to reconstruct the bone defect with or without a stem in simulated revision total knee arthroplasty (RTKA). A no-stem group and a stem group were established (based on whether a stem was used or not). Von Mises stress and micromotion were calculated with varying depths of bone defects, ranging from 5 mm to 35 mm, and then micromotions at the bone-implant interface were calculated and compared with the critical value of 150 μm. In the biomechanical experiment, the no-stem group was used, and the same bone defects were made in four synthetic tibias using patient-specific instruments. Micromotions at the bone-implant interface were investigated using a non-contact optical digital image correlation system and compared with the critical value of 150 μm.

RESULTS

When the bone defect was <30 mm, micromotions at the bone-implant interface in the finite-element analysis were all below 150 μm both in the stem groups and no-stem groups, whereas those in the biomechanical experiment were also below 150 μm in the no-stem group.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3D-printed custom-made metaphyseal cone in RTKA has excellent primary stability and does not require stems in reconstructing tibial AORI type IIb or III bone defects with a depth of <30 mm.

The influence of body weight index on initial stability of uncemented femoral knee protheses: A finite element study

Background and objective

Obesity is one of the risk factors for osteoarthritis. The end-stage treatment for osteoarthritis is total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, it remains controversial whether a high body mass index (BMI) affects the initial stability of the femoral prosthesis after TKA. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to investigate this question in this study.

Methods

Four femur models that assembled with TKA femoral components were reconstructed and divided into high BMI group and normal BMI group. The three-dimensional femurs were modeled and assigned inhomogeneous materials based on computed tomography (CT) images. Then each FEA model was applied with gait and deep bend loading conditions to evaluate the maximum principal strain on the distal femur and the relative micromotion between the femur and prosthesis.

Results

The mean strain of the high BMI group increased by 32.7% (936.9 με versus 706.1 με) and 50.9% (2064.5 με versus 1368.2 με) under gait and deep bend loading conditions, respectively, compared to the normal BMI group. Meanwhile, the mean micromotion of the high BMI group increased by 41.6% (2.77 μm versus 1.96 μm) and 58.5% (62.1 μm versus 39.2 μm), respectively. Under gait condition, the maximum micromotion for high BMI group was 33.8 μm and would compromise the initial stability. Under deep bend condition, the maximum strain and micromotion exceeded -7300 με and 28 μm for both groups.

Conclusion

High BMI caused higher strain on the bone and higher micromotion between the prosthesis and the femur. Gait activities could be risky for prosthesis stability in high BMI group while be safe in normal group. Deep bend activities were highly dangerous for both groups with high BMI and normal BMI and should be avoided.

Tibial metaphyseal cones combined with short stems perform as well as long stems in revision total knee arthroplasty

Backgrounds

There is uncertainty around optimal tibial stem length in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) utilizing a tibial trabecular metal (TM) cone. The purpose of this study was to compare: (1) functional outcomes, (2) radiographic outcomes and (3) implant survivorship in rTKA utilizing TM cones combined with either short stems (SS) or long stems (LS) at minimum 2 years follow‐up.

Methods

In this retrospective, multi‐centre study, patients undergoing rTKA utilizing a TM cone between 2008 and 2019 were included. Patients were divided into: SS group (no diaphyseal engagement), and LS group (diaphyseal engagement). All relevant clinical charts and post‐operative radiographs were examined. Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and EuroQol‐5D (EQ‐5D‐5L) data were collected at most recent follow‐up.

Results

In total, 44 patients were included: 18 in the SS group and 26 in the LS group. The mean time of follow‐up was 4.0 years. Failure free survival was 94.4% for the SS group and 92.3% for the LS group. All failures were for prosthetic joint infections managed with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention. At most recent follow‐up, 3 patients demonstrated radiographic signs of lucency (1 SS 2 LS, P = 1) and the mean OKS were 37 ± 4 and 36 ± 6 (P = 0.73) in the SS and LS groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Tibial SS combined with TM cones performed as well as LS in rTKA at minimum 2 years follow‐up. A tibial SS in combination with a TM cone is a reliable technique to achieve stable and durable fixation in rTKA.

The Use of Metaphyseal Cones and Sleeves in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

The burden of revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) is expected to increase with the rise in the number of TKA procedures being performed yearly. Management of bone loss during rTKA is challenging and necessitates appropriate surgical planning. Metaphyseal cones and sleeves have emerged as an increasing popular option for addressing metaphyseal femoral and tibial bone loss when performing rTKA. Understanding what cones and sleeves are commercially available and when to use them are critical parts of preoperative evaluation and planning. The purpose of this comprehensive review was to present different design philosophies, types of manufacturing, clinical outcomes, and the versatility and interchangeability of varying cones and sleeves with different TKA revision systems.

Is stemless implant fixation a valid option in total knee revision arthroplasty - Review of in vitro and in vivo studies

Metaphyseal sleeves have shown an improved fixation in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty (R-TKA) leading to a reduced aspetic loosening rate compared to other stem based fixation options. In the majority of these studies sleeve have been used with stems. Due to that is was not clear how much of this improved fixation could be rated to the sleeve and how much to the additional sleeves. In this review article we analysed the results of sleeve-only obtained in in-vitro or in-vivo studies. In Vitro models showed independent of the set-up a dominant fixation of the sleeve, an additional stem was not adding a lot to the overall fixation. Undersized additional stems showed an increased micromotion and the stem tip, while distal engaging stems showed a proximal stress shielding effect. Very interestingly an increased BMI had not a significant effect on primary fixation of the sleeve. Reduced bone quality on the other hand had and this effect was increased in cases with an increased BMI. In vivo results of sleeve-only patients showed comparable good results to sleeve and stem constructs. In particular on the femoral side the use of an additional stem is required only in a few scenarios. It has to be stated that the numbers of sleeves-only in rotating hinges is too low, to give any recommendation for this high constraint implants. Majority of cases was done with PS and VVC constraint. So far no in vivo data exist on the limitations of sleeve-only in patients with reduced bone quality and increased body weight. In conclusion we can state, that Sleeve-only is an option for R-TKA. In majority of cases the aspetic loosening rate is as low as with additional stems. The borderlines in terms of constraint, bone quality and body weight need to be investigated in future in vivo studies. The in vitro results look so far encouraging.