Damages of the tibial post in constrained total knee prostheses in the early postoperative course - a scanning electron microscopic study of polyethylene inlays.
BACKGROUND
Investigation of the risk of fracture of the polyethylene (PE) inlay in constrained total knee prostheses.


METHODS
Three unused and seven polyethylene inlays that had been implanted in a patient's knee for an average of 25.4 months (min 1.1 months, max 50.2 months) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All inlays were of the same type and size (Genesis II constrained, Smith & Nephew). The PE surface at the transition from the plateau to the post was analyzed.


RESULTS
The unused inlays had fissure-free surfaces. All inlays that had been implanted in a patient's knee already had distinct fissures at the front and backside of the post.


CONCLUSIONS
The fissures of the transition from the plateau to the post indicated a loading-induced irreversible mechanical deformation and possibly cause the fracture of the inlay.
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Marburg, University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, D-35041 Marburg, Germany. skwara@med.uni-marburg.de
Adrian
A
Skwara
Carsten O
CO
Tibesku
Rudolf
R
Reichelt
Susanne
S
Fuchs-Winkelmann
D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D020959:Polyethylene; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D020959:Polyethylene