title: Effect of patellar thickness on knee flexion in total knee arthroplasty: a biomechanical and experimental study.
abstract: A biomechanical computer-based model was developed to simulate the influence of patellar thickness on passive knee flexion after arthroplasty. Using the computer model of a single-radius, PCL-sacrificing knee prosthesis, a range of patella-implant composite thicknesses was simulated. The biomechanical model was then replicated using two cadaveric knees. A patellar-thickness range of 15 mm was applied to each of the knees. Knee flexion was found to decrease exponentially with increased patellar thickness in both the biomechanical and experimental studies. Importantly, this flexion loss followed an exponential pattern with higher patellar thicknesses in both studies. In order to avoid adverse biomechanical and functional consequences, it is recommended to restore patellar thickness to that of the native knee during total knee arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Fellow of Arthroplasty in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abolghasemian
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samiezadeh
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sternheim
authors.forename: Habiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bougherara
authors.forename: C Lowry
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Backstein
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: knee arthroplasty; knee flexion; over-stuffing; patellar thickness; range of motion