Patellar Component Design Influences Size Selection and Coverage
Publication Date
12-1-2016
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science, Center for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Keywords
Patellar component, Implant design, Implant size, Bony coverage, Patellofemoral, Total knee replacement
Abstract
Background
Patellofemoral (PF) complications following total knee arthroplasty continue to occur. Outcomes are influenced by implant design, size and alignment in addition to patient factors. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of implant design, specifically round versus oval dome patellar components, on size selected and bony coverage in a population of 100 patients.
Methods
Intraoperative assessments of patella component size were performed using surgical guides for round and oval designs. Digital images of the resected patellae with and without guides were calibrated and analyzed to measure bony coverage. Lastly, the medial–lateral location of the median ridge was assessed in the native patella and compared to the positioning of the apex of the patellar implants.
Results
In 82% of subjects, a larger oval implant was selected compared to a round. Modest, but statistically significant, differences were observed in selected component coverage of the resected patella: 82.7% for oval versus 80.9% for round. Further, positioning of the apex of oval patellar components reproduced the median ridge of the native patella more consistently than for round components.
Conclusions
These findings characterized how implant design influenced size selection and coverage in a population of patients. The ability to “upsize” with oval dome components led to increases in bony coverage and better replication of the median ridge compared to round components. Quantifying the interactions between implant design, sizing and coverage for a current implant system in a population of patients supports surgical decision-making and informs the design of future implants.
Publication Statement
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Recommended Citation
Yang, Charlie C, et al. “Patellar Component Design Influences Size Selection and Coverage.” The Knee, vol. 24, no. 2, 2016, pp. 460–467. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2016.10.013.