title: Importance of a balanced-gap technique in rotating-platform knees.
abstract: Rotating-platform knees are constructed of highly conforming polyethylene to reduce contact pressures that potentially cause wear. The mobile nature of the rotating platform can lead to bearing spin-out. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of spin-out in a single series. A total of 426 knees in 393 patients were included in the study. All knees were implanted using a balanced-gap technique. The average follow up was 3.2 years. There were no cases of bearing spin-out. The author concludes that the balanced-gap technique reliably prevents spin-out in mobile-bearing total knee implantation. This implantation technique provides the potential wear benefits of the rotating platform design with a nominal bearing spin-out rate.
authors.affiliation: Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic, NC, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiavetta
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Fehring
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odum
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: J Bohannon
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D031221:Knee Dislocation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies