2017 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1238

 

Use of All-Polyethylene Tibial Components In Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Increases The Risk of Early Failure

In Jun Koh, MD, PhD, Prof., Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Yong In, MD, PhD, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Man-Soo Kim, MD, PhD, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Young Jun Choi, MD, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Keun Young Choi, MD, Seoul KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Seoul, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

FDA Status Cleared

Summary

All-poly tibial components confer a significantly higher risk of early failure relative to metal-backed modular component UKAs.

Abstract

Purpose

All-polyethylene tibial designs in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been reconsidered with excellent clinical outcomes, survivorship and cost-effectiveness. However, whether all-polyethylene (all-poly) tibial components provided comparable results to metal-backed modular components during unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) remains unclear. This study compared the clinical outcomes and prevalence of early failure between all-poly and metal-backed modular components in UKA.

Materials And Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records and radiographs of 101 consecutive UKAs. In total, 51 UKAs were performed using all-poly tibial components; 50 others used metal-backed modular components. Clinical and radiographic outcomes, adaptive bone remodeling, and early failure prevalence rates were compared.

Results

Despite a lack of group differences in clinical and radiographic outcomes, adaptive bone remodeling of all-poly UKAs was more progressive compared to metal-backed UKAs. In addition, 6 of 51 all-poly UKAs failed within 2 years postoperatively, whereas no metal-backed UKAs failed.

Conclusion

All-poly tibial component use during UKA increased the risk of early failure, which may be due to a failure in tibial loading distribution.