Return to search

Fixation of the Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement

The Oxford Unicompartmental Knee Replacement (UKR) is a commonly performed procedure, with a good clinical outcome at 15 years, however, radiolucent lines are commonly found beneath the tibial tray. With the projected increase in knee arthroplasty, particularly in younger patients, implant longevity is of paramount importance. The aim of this thesis is to understand how fixation is achieved with the Oxford UKR and how it can be improved. A histological study demonstrated that in the presence of a radiolucent line the tibial bone-cement interface is made up of a combination of direct bony contact, fibrocartilage and fibrous tissue. The radiolucency is more marked when there is more soft tissue. However in all cases there is some direct bony contact. Cemented and cementless fixation was compared in a randomised controlled study using radiostereometric analysis and fluoroscopic imaging of the interfaces. In the first year the cementless tibial component subsided on average 0.28 mm and had an increased posterior slope of 0.40°, whereas the cemented component only subsided 0.09 mm, with a 0.10° increase in slope. In the second year both components had very little further subsidence (mean<0.05 mm) and no increase in posterior slope. In the second year a single cementless tibial component subsided greater than 0.15 mm, whereas four cemented components, all with radiolucencies, subsided more than 0.15 mm. At two years the cemented components had a significantly higher prevalence of radiolucency (62% v 29%), with 24% having a complete radiolucency, whereas no cementless components had a complete radiolucency. Two designs of lateral UKR were also compared. These had a flat tibial component that predominantly transmits compressive loading, and a domed component that also transmits shear. There was a lower prevalence of radiolucency in the domed tibia (13% v 60%), even though there was a similar amount of migration as the cemented medial tibial component. In conclusion radiolucent lines, both partial and complete, are common with cemented components, and may, in part, be a result of compressive loading. They are associated with good long-term results and direct bone cement contact indicating satisfactory fixation. However, they are also associated with increased migration and soft tissue at the interface suggesting that the fixation, although satisfactory, is suboptimal. The cementless components had no complete radiolucencies and low levels of migration in the second year. This suggests that bone ingrowth and secure fixation occurs reliably, and therefore that cementless fixation may be better than cemented for the Oxford UKR.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:581096
Date January 2012
CreatorsKendrick, Benjamin J. L.
ContributorsGill, H. S.; Murray, D. W.; Price, A. J.
PublisherUniversity of Oxford
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:0137ea96-ca9a-4f4e-8a37-53602903f28f

Page generated in 0.0018 seconds