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Dysfunction of the posterior cruciate ligament in total knee arthroplasty

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is typically carried out either with retention (CR) of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) or with sacrifice of this ligament and implantation of a posterior stabilised (PS) prosthesis. This paper investigates a comparison of PCL function in knees treated for osteoarthritis with TKA where the PCL is preserved to those knees treated with TKA and posterior stabilisation.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-eight patients (232 knees) who had undergone TKA with either a PS or CR implant were included in the study. Clinical assessment included antero-posterior (AP) laxity and posterior sag assessment with an arthrometer.

Results

The mean AP laxity at 90° of flexion for CR TKAs was 6.5 mm (±3.1) and was the same [6.5 mm (±2.4)] as in the PS group. However, 56% of the PCL-preserved knees had a posterior sag of over 3 mm compared to 18% of the knees in the PS group. The American Knee Society Scores for either group showed that, although the mean function score was the same, the knee score was superior in the PS group (77 vs. 84). The range of motion was also superior in the PS group (111° vs. 105°).

Conclusion

The use of the PS prosthesis for TKA provides a more predictable outcome with regard to posterior sag and a better maximum flexion than a CR implant.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the surgeons of Warrington Hospital, North Cheshire, who allowed their patients to be included in this study, and Aircast® who helped fund this study.

Conflict of interest

One or more of the authors have received or will receive benefits from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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Correspondence to James Edmund Arbuthnot.

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Arbuthnot, J.E., Wainwright, O., Stables, G. et al. Dysfunction of the posterior cruciate ligament in total knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 893–898 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1234-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1234-x

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