title: All-Polyethylene Tibial Component Use for Elderly, Low-Demand Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients.
abstract: Potential advantages combined with lower cost have prompted a renewed interest in modern all-polyethylene tibial designs.
  
  
  
  A total of 317 Natural Knee total knee arthroplasties with an all-polyethylene tibial component that was performed since 1993 were retrospectively reviewed to confirm that cost savings were not associated with inferior clinical results. They were primarily used in elderly, low-demand patients. The average age at the time of surgery was 80.8 years.
  
  
  
  227 knees with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were identified. The average follow-up was 5.6 years (range, 2-20 years). Clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated. At the latest follow-up, the average Knee Society and functional score was 94.2 and 57.2. The average postoperative range of motion was 1.6°-115.4°. No patient required a revision for aseptic or septic loosening, wear, or instability. Only 5 knees had a partial nonprogressive cement/bone radiolucency. There was an approximate 33% cost savings for the implants when the all-polyethylene component was used.
  
  
  
  An all-polyethylene tibial component of this design provides excellent results in the elderly population along with a significant cost savings.
authors.affiliation: Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Tampa, Florida; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gustke
authors.affiliation: Bridger Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Bozeman, Montana.
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gelbke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020959:Polyethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: all-polyethylene tibial component; natural knee arthroplasty; total knee arthroplasty; total knee arthroplasty costs; total knee arthroplasty in the elderly