Knee Arthroplasty (Complete) Flashcards
Describe the 4th generation cementing technique
- Vacuum mixing cement (reduces porosity, increases fatigue strength)
- Medullary plug/cement restrictor (limits the cement column)
- Clean dry bone (increases cement interdigitation)
- Retrograde insertion of cement (reduces blood lamination)
- Cement pressurization (increases cement interdigitation)
- Prosthesis centralizers (even cement mantle)
What are the important anatomic/mechanical measurements in TKA?
- Mechanical axis of the limb
* Line from the centre of the femoral head to the centre of the ankle joint - Anatomical axis of the femur
* Line that bisects the femur medullary canal - Mechanical axis of the femur
* Line from the centre of the femoral head to the intersection of the anatomical axis and the intercondylar notch - Distal femoral cut angle
- 5-7 degrees of valgus
- Difference between the mechanical and anatomical axis
- Anatomical axis of the tibia
* Line that bisects the tibia medullary canal - Mechanical axis of the tibia
* Line from the centre of the proximal tibia to the centre of the ankle - Proximal tibial cut angle
- 0 degrees of varus/valgus
- 90 degrees to the mechanical axis of the tibia
- Normal tibial slope = 10+/-3 degrees
- Normal tibia plateau relative to the mechanical axis = 87° of varus (MPTA)
- Normal distal femur relative to the anatomical axis = 81° of valgus (aLDFA)
- Normal distal femur relative to the mechanical axis = 87° of valgus (mLDFA)
- Posterior condylar axis
- Line connecting the apex of the posterior aspect of the medial and lateral femoral condyles with the knee in flexion
- 3 degrees internally rotated relative to the transepicondylar axis
- Whitesides line
* Line extending from the deepest point of the femoral trochlea to the centre of the intercondylar notch - Transepicondylar axis
* •Line extending between the medial and lateral epicondyles - Q angle
- Angle formed between a line drawn from the ASIS to the centre of the patella and a line from the centre of the patella to the tibial tubercle
- Females = 18, males = 14
16.Tibiofemoral angle
- Angle formed between the anatomical axis of the femur and tibia
- Normal = ~6 degrees
What are the technical goals in TKA?
- Restore neutral mechanical alignment of limb
- Restore joint line
- Balance ligaments
- Well tracking patella
What is the difference between mechanical alignment and kinematic alignment?
1.Mechanical alignment
- A. Avoids tibia cut in anatomical varus (3°)
- B. Tibia cut is perpendicular to the mechanical axis (90° to the anatomical axis)
- C. Femoral cut is perpendicular to the mechanical axis (4-6° valgus to the anatomical axis)
2.Kinematic alignment
- A. AKA: Anatomic alignment, constitutional alignment
- B. Compared to mechanical alignment
- Femoral cuts are in 2-4° more valgus
- Tibial cuts are in 2-4° more varus
What is the difference between measured resection vs. gap balancing?
1.Measured resection
- A. Relies on transepicondylar axis, Whitesides line, posterior condylar axis
- B. Utilizes anterior or posterior referencing guides
- Anterior referencing avoids notching but can lead to overresection of posterior condyles increasing the flexion gap
- Posterior referencing can lead to anterior notching
- C. Disadvantage = variable femoral anatomy
- E.g. hypoplastic lateral femoral condyle
2.Gap balancing
- A. Relies on a precise tibial cut 90° to the mechanical axis
- The gaps are then balanced by removing osteophytes and tension is held with distraction devices
- Femoral cuts are made parallel to the tibial cut in flexion and extension
What are the levels of mechanical restraint in TKA design?
1.Least constrained
- Cruciate retaining (CR)
- PROS
- Bone conserving
- More consistent joint line restoration (small flexion gap)
- More proprioceptive feedback with PCL
- CONS
- Harder to balance in severe deformities
- Tight PCL in flexion causes PE wear
- Late rupture/stretch of PCL leading to instability
- Sliding PE wear due to paradoxical forward sliding
- PROS
- Cruciate sacrificing
- Posterior stabilized = polyethylene post and cam
- Indications:
- PCL deficient knee, patellectomy, inflammatory arthritis
- Indications:
- PROS
- Easier to balance soft tissues
- CONS
- Femoral cam jump
- Patella clunk syndrome
- Tibial post wear and breakage
- Not bone conserving (intercondylar notch punch removes more bone)
- Larger flexion gap (leads to elevation of joint line due to larger distal femoral resection)
- oAnterior stabilized = extended anterior PE lip
- Constrained
- Posterior stabilized = polyethylene post and cam
- Constrained non-hinged (high tibial post) [aka. varus valgus constrained, condylar constrained]
- CONS
- Increased polyethylene wear
- Higher rate of aseptic loosening (greater forces through implant-bone interface)
- PROS
- Substitutes for MCL or LCL deficiency
3. Most constrained
- Substitutes for MCL or LCL deficiency
- CONS
- Hinged with rotating tibial platform
- Indications [CORR 2010 May; 468(5): 1248–1253]
- Global ligamentous instability
- Severe deformity (with associated soft tissue releases)
- Severe bone loss (with loss of ligamentous attachments)
- Gross flexion extension imbalances/mismatch
- Hyperextension instability (eg. polio)
- Limb salvage surgery in oncology
- Comminuted or nonunited distal femur fracture in elderly
- Ankylosis with instability following releases
- Indications [CORR 2010 May; 468(5): 1248–1253]
What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a subvastus/midvastus approach to the knee?
- Advantages [AAOS comprehensive review 2, 2014]
- VMO insertion into medial quads tendon and patella not disrupted
- Accelerated rehabilitation (due to rapid restoration of quadriceps function)
- Patellar tracking may be improved (less lateral release needed)
- Relative contraindications [AAOS comprehensive review 2, 2014]
- Obesity
- Preoperative stiffness
- Previous HTO
- Revision TKA
- Extremely muscular quads
What is the consequence of a flexion contracture post-TKA?
[JBJS(B) 2012;94-B, Supple A:112–15]
- Increased energy expenditure as a result of quadriceps activity to prevent knee buckling
- Relative LLD
* Shortens stride length, increases contralateral knee forces, alters trunk alignment
What is the intraop management of flexion contractures in TKA?
[JBJS(B) 2012;94-B, Supple A:112–15]
- Remove posterior osteophytes
- Release posterior capsule (off femur and tibia)
- Additional distal femoral resection
* Generally, take an additional 2mm for flexion contractures >10° - Decrease tibial slope
- Avoid implanting components in flexion
- PS knee preferred
- PCL recession in CR knees
* Release from posterior tibia, medial femoral condyle or V-shaped osteotomy of the posterior tibia - Release medial and lateral gastrocnemius
- Post operative splinting, CPM, shoe lift on contralateral side (forces extension), exercises, close followup
What are causes of patellar maltracking in TKA?
[JAAOS 2016;24: 220-230]
- Internally rotated femoral component
- Medialized femoral component
- Internally rotated tibial component
- Medialized tibial component
- Lateralized patellar button
- Valgus deformity (must restore neutral mechanical axis)
* I.e. >7° valgus positioning of the femoral component - Overstuffing patellofemoral joint
* I.e. Increased net patella thickness (increases tension on lateral retinaculum thereby increasing lateral patellar pull) - Asymmetric patellar resection
What are the intraop treatment options for patellar maltracking in TKA?
- Take down tourniqette to confirm maltracking
- “No thumb” test – patella should track with its medial edge in contact with the medial femoral component with the medial capsule open throughout the range without the surgeon keeping it in position
- “Kissing rule” – in maximal flexion the medial surface of the patella should make contact with the medial condyle of the femoral component
- Lateral release
- Medial plication
- Tibial tubercle osteotomy
- Quadsplasty
- Component revision
What is the technique for performing a lateral release of the patella?
- Option 1 [Clin Orthop Relat Res (2012) 470:2854–2863]
- Progress to the next step only if needed
- Step 3 sacrifices the superior lateral geniculate artery
- STEPS:
- Step 1 - Release of distal part
- Release of the lateral retinaculum starting from the midlevel of the patella, progressing distally to the upper tibial border
- Step 2 - Partial release of proximal part
- Release of the lateral retinaculum starting from midlevel of the patella, progressing proximally up to the proximal border of the patella;
- The lateral superior genicular artery is preserved
- Step 3 - Complete release of proximal part
- Further release of the retinaculum from the superior border of the patella, progressing proximally, lateral to the vastus lateralis, for approximately 2 to 4 cm
- This includes release of the superior geniculate artery
2. Option 2 [The Journal of Arthroplasty Vol. 24 No. 5 2009]
- Step 1 - Release of distal part
- Progress to the next stage only if needed
- Release of the lateral patellofemoral ligament from within the joint
- Outside staged retinacular release preserving the deep capsulosynovial layer
- STEPS:
- Stage 1 - Release of the LPFL from the deep aspect
- Stage 2 - Release of the lateral retinaculum starts 25 mm proximal to the patella, down to the level of the superior border of the patella, and 20 mm lateral to it
- Stage 3 - Release of the lateral retinaculum down to the level of the midpatella
- Stage 4 - Release of the lateral retinaculum down to the distal pole of the patella
- Stage 5 - Lateral release from the inferior border of the patella to the level of the knee joint line
- Stage 6 - Lateral release down to the level of the Gerdy tubercle
How do you assess patellar height?
- Blumensaat’s line
* Should extend to the inferior pole of the patella in 30 degrees of flexion - Insall-Salvati Method/Ratio/Index
- Ratio of the length of patellar tendon to the length of the patella (ideally in 30 degrees of knee flexion)
- Normal = 0.8-1.2
- Patella baja = <0.8
- Patella alta = >1.2
- Caton Deschamps method
- Defined by the ratio between the articular facet length of the patella and the distance between the inferior articular facet of the patella and the anterior corner of the superior tibial epiphysis
- Normal = 0.6-1.3
- Blackburne-Peel method
- Ratio between a line drawn from the inferior articular facet of the patella to a horizontal parallel to the tibial plateau and the patellar articular facet length
- Normal = 0.8-1.0
What is the treatment of patella baja in TKA?
- Lower joint line
* Resect more tibia, resect less distal femur (or augment) - Place patella poly superiorly and trim distal patellar pole
- Tibial tubercle osteotomy moving it cephalad
- Patellectomy
What are 4 acquired causes of patella baja?
- HTO
- TTO
- Trauma (scarring)
- Raising the joint line in TKA
A valgus knee is generally defined as a tibiofemoral angle greater than what?
Tibiofemoral angle >10 degrees
Which approach is most commonly used in a valgus TKA?
- Medial parapatellar approach is sufficient in most cases
- Lateral parapatellar approach is described:
- Pros:
- Direct access to lateral structures
- No disruption of medial patella blood supply
- Cons:
- Limits access to central and medial structures
- Lack of soft tissue for closure
- Pros:
What are 3 factors to consider in valgus TKA and ways to address them?
- Contracted lateral soft tissue structures
- Structures that may require release:
- Lateral osteophytes (may bowstring lateral structures)
- Posterolateral capsule and arcuate ligament (extends from fibula head to posterolateral capsule)
- Iliotibial band [release mainly affects extension gap]
- Popliteus tendon [release mainly affects flexion gap]
- LCL
- Lateral head of gastrocnemius
- Biceps femoris tendon (rare to release)
- PCL if tight laterally in flexion
- Typically sufficient release is achieved with release of posterolateral capsule and ‘pie-crusting’ of lateral structures
- More severe deformities may require release of LCL and popliteus from lateral epicondyle and lateral head of gastroc from femoral insertion
- Lax medial structures
- More severe deformities may require release of LCL and popliteus from lateral epicondyle and lateral head of gastroc from femoral insertion
- Tightening medial structures is usually achieved by ‘filling up’ the medial side (requires thicker poly) and release of lateral structures
- Occasionally the MCL is tightened by MCL advancement, MCL division and imbrication or recessing the origin of the MCL with a bone block
- Lateral bone loss
- Hypoplastic or deficient lateral femoral condyle may require augments
- Lateral tibial bone loss can be addressed by increasing the cement mantle or resecting more tibia to allow rim contact
What are 3 factors to consider in a varus knee and how to correct them?
- Contracted medial soft tissue structures
- Structures that may require release
- Osteophytes (cause bowstringing of medial soft tissue)
- Capsule
- Superficial MCL
- Release of anterior fibres mainly affects flexion gap
- Release of posterior fibres mainly affects extension gap
- Posterior oblique ligament fibres of MCL
- Release affects mainly extension gap
- Semimembranosus
- Release affects mainly extension gap
- Pes anserinus
- Release affects mainly extension gap
- PCL
- Release affects mainly the flexion gap
- Consider resection bone from the medial aspect of the medial tibial plateau and lateralizing the tibial component
2. Lax lateral structures - Tightening lateral structures is usually achieved by ‘filling up’ the lateral side (requires thicker poly) and release of medial structures
- Occasionally the LCL is tightened by LCL advancement
- Medial bone loss
* Consider augments, cement, allogaft bone/synthetic
What are the indications for high tibial osteotomy?
- Pain located primarily on the medial aspect of the knee
- Medial compartment OA (less than 4mm of medial joint space on standing radiograph)
- Varus knee deformity
- Young patient undergoing articular cartilage restoration or medial meniscus transplant
What are the contraindications for HTO?
- Less than 90 degrees of flexion
- Flexion contracture >10-15 degrees
- Severe medial compartment articular damage (Ahlback grade III or higher)
- Patellofemoral OA (symptomatic)
- Lateral compartment OA
- Prior lateral meniscectomy
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Ligament instability (especially varus thrust gait)
- Lateral tibial subluxation >1 cm
- Obesity (relative)
- Smoking (relative)
- Age >65 (relative)
What are the complications of HTO?
[JAAOS 2011;19:590-599]
- Undercorrection/overcorrection
- Loss of correction
- Patella baja
- Nonunion/malunion
- Peroneal nerve palsy
- Compartment syndrome
- Infection
- DVT/PE
What are the advantages and disadvantages of closing wedge HTOs?
[Knee Surg 2017;30:409–420] [Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2013;21:38–46)]
Advantages
- Inherently stable
- Less nonunion
- No bone graft required
- May allow earlier WB
Disadvantages
- Requires fibular osteotomy or proximal tib-fib joint disruption
- Risk of common peroneal nerve injury
- Loss of bone stock
- Less predictable in achieving desired correction (no gradual correction)
- Change in offset of the upper tibial metaphysis may affect future TKA
What are the advantages and disadvantages of opening wedge HTOs?
[Knee Surg 2017;30:409–420] [Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2013;21:38–46)]
Advantages
- Avoids fibular osteotomy
- Less risk to common peroneal nerve
- Allows for gradual correction
- Allows for correction of tibial slope
- May be easier to convert to TKA
- Bone preserving
- Can perform combined ACL recon without need for additional incisions
Disadvantages
- Inherently unstable
- Loss of correction
- Risk of nonunion/malunion
- Risk of fracture of the lateral tibial plateau or cortex
- Requires bone graft
What is the normal medial proximal tibial angle?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
87o (ie. 3o of varus)
When is an increase or decrease in tibial slope desirable in HTO?
[JAAOS 2011;19:590-599]
- Increased tibial slope = PCL deficiency
- Decreased tibial slope = ACL deficiency
Where is the lateral hinge located for the osteotomy (HTO)?
[JAAOS 2011;19:590-599]
1cm distal to the joint line and 1cm medial to the lateral cortex
Describe the preoperative planning and determination of correction in HTO?
[JAAOS 2011;19:590-599]
- 62.5% = Fujisawa point (considered the optimal location for the mechanical axis)
- Corrects to 3-5 degrees valgus
- Line from center of femoral head and line from center of the ankle pass through Fujisawa point
- Line a-b = proposed osteotomy from 4cm distal to joint line medial and to tip of fibula laterally
- Alpha = angle of correction
- b1-c = gap in mm for correction
What are the technical challenges of TKA after HTO?
[AAOS comprehensive review 2, 2014]
- Previous incisions
- Hardware
- Patella baja (difficult exposure)
- Tibial abnormalities (metaphyseal offset after closing wedge osteotomy)
What is the normal distal femoral valgus angle?
[JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
7-9° valgus
What are the indications for a varus producing distal femoral osteotomy?
[Arthroscopy Techniques 2016: 5(6); e1357-e1366]
- Genu valgus alignment
- Isolated lateral compartment OA
- Chondral or osteochondral lesions of the lateral compartment
- Meniscal deficiency of the lateral compartment
- Cartilage repair/restoration of the lateral compartment
- Chronic MCL or cruciate instability
- Refractory patellar instability
What are the contraindications for a varus producing DFO?
[Arthroscopy Techniques 2016: 5(6); e1357-e1366] [JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
- Inflammatory OA
- Medial or patellofemoral OA
- Flexion contracture >15°
- Flexion <90°
- Deformity >15°
- Tibial subluxation
- Gross knee instability
- Severe lateral compartment bone loss
- Nicotine use (relative)
- Obesity (relative)
- Age >50 (relative)
- History of septic arthritis (relative)
- Inability to comply with postoperative instructions
In general, what is the cause of the valgus knee deformity in OA?
[Arthroscopy Techniques 2016: 5(6); e1357-e1366][JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
- Hypoplastic lateral femoral condyle
* Femoral osteotomy avoids an oblique joint line (which would occur if the valgus was addressed through a HTO) - Valgus secondary to proximal tibia deformity (less common)
- Eg. tibial fracture malunion
- Consider proximal tibia varus osteotomy
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a DFVO over arthroplasty in younger patients?
[JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
Advantages
- Native joint preservation
- Unrestricted high impact activity after union
- Possible delay of future arthroplasty
Disadvantages
- Longer rehabilitation
- Early WB restrictions
- More variation in pain relief
- Conversion to TKA more technically challenging
What are the advantages of a medial closing wedge vs. a lateral opening wedge DFO?
[Arthroscopy Techniques 2016: 5(6); e1357-e1366] [JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
- Medial closing wedge
- Direct bone contact leads to increased stability
- Reliable bone healing
- No bone graft
- Less hardware irritation
- Lateral opening wedge
- More precise adjustment of correction
- Single osteotomy
- Familiar lateral approach
- Access to the lateral compartment for concomitant procedures
What are the indications for a medial closing wedge over a lateral opening wedge osteotomy?
[JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
- Angle of correction >17.5°
- Operated limb exhibits a limb length discrepancy
- Earlier WB desired
- Risk factors for delayed union (eg. smoking, neuropathy, poor bone quality, obesity)
What should a patient be counselled on prior to osteotomy for unicompartmental OA?
[Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 2013;21:38–46)]
- Some degree of continued pain
* The pain is accepted in exchange for higher activity levels and avoidance of prosthetic implant failure - Conversion to arthroplasty in the future is not a failure but rather an anticipated event
- Survival rates are ~95% at 5 years, 80% at 10 years and 55% at 15 years
- Outcomes of TKA after osteotomy are equivalent
- Cosmetic changes to limb alignment
How is the correction angle calculated for a DFO?
[Arthroscopy Techniques 2016: 5(6); e1357-e1366]
- Goal is a neutral mechanical axis (mechanical axis passes through or just medial to the center of the knee)
- Lateral compartment OA consider correction 62.5% of the way to the medial compartment
- Other indications are typically through the center of the knee
- Correction angle = angle formed between the mechanical axis of the femur (center of head of femur and selected point) and mechanical axis of tibia (center of the talus and selected point)
- Confirm the deformity is femoral based
- Calculate the medial-proximal tibial angle (average = 87)
- Should be normal if DFO planned
- Calculate the lateral-distal femoral angle (average = 87)
- Should be decreased if DFO planned
What is the postoperative management following DFVO?
[JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
- 6 weeks nonWB (allow ROM)
- 6-12 weeks graduated WB
- 12 weeks start low impact/light duties
- 6 months resume high impact/full duties
What are the complications of a DFVO?
[JAAOS 2018;26:313-324]
- Distal femoral fracture
- Nonunion/malunion
- Neurovascular injury
- Infection
- Thromboembolic event
- Stiffness
- Painful hardware
What is the definition of supracondylar periprosthetic (TKA) fracture?
Within 15cm of the joint line or, in the case of a stemmed component, within 5 cm of the proximal end of the implant.
What are classification systems of supracondylar periprosthetic (TKA) fractures?
- Rorabeck and Taylor
- Type I – undisplaced fracture, prosthesis intact
- Type II – displaced fracture, prosthesis intact
- Type III – displaced or undisplaced fracture, prosthesis is loose or failing
- Su classification
- Type I – fracture proximal to the femoral component
- Type II – fracture originates at the proximal end of the femoral component and extends proximally
- Type III – fracture line is distal to the upper edge of the component’s anterior flange
What are the management options for supracondylar periprosthetic (TKA) fractures?
- Nonoperative
- Plates and screws
- Fixed-angle devices
- Dynamic condylar screw
- Blade plate
- Locking plates*
- Intramedullary nails
- Supracondylar nail*
- Antegrade nail
- Retrograde nail
- Revision arthroplasty*
What is the management of TKA periprosthetic fractures based on Su classification?
- Type I – antegrade or retrograde IM nail
- Type II – fixed angle device or retrograde supracondylar nail
- Type III – fixed angle device or revision arthroplasty
What is the incidence of periprosthetic (TKA) tibia fractures?
[JAAOS 2018;26:e167-e172]
0.4 - 1.7%
What radiographic finding should make you think of a periprosthetic (TKA) tibia fracture?
[JAAOS 2018;26:e167-e172]
Proximal tibia varus (associated with Felix type I and II)
What test should be ordered to evaluate for (TKA) implant stability if unclear on radiographs?
[JAAOS 2018;26:e167-e172]
CT scan
In what cases should an infectious workup be performed (in context of TKA periprosthetic fracture)?
[JAAOS 2018;26:e167-e172]
- History of PJI
- Imaging findings that are concerning for infection
- Severe fracture pattern that is inconsistent with mechanism
What is the Classification system for TKA periprosthetic fractures of the tibia?
[Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty 2012, Berry et al]
Mayo Clinic classification of periprosthetic tibial fractures (aka Felix classification)
- Four types
- Type I - fractures involve the tibia plateau and extend into the metaphysis (usually medial plateau and involve the tibial baseplate/bone interface)
- Type II - fractures involve the meta-diaphyseal area and extend to the tibial stem/bone interface
- Type III - fractures occur distal to the tibial stem
- Type IV - tibial tubercle fractures
- Three subcategories
- A - well fixed tibial component
- B - loose tibial component
- C - intraoperative fracture
What are risk factors for periprosthetic (TKA) fracture of the tibia?
[Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty 2012, Berry et al]
- Varus malalignment
- Rotational malposition
- Knee instability
- Loose components
- Keeled tibial components
- Trauma
- Proximal tibia osteolysis
- Poor bone quality