Femoral bone loss in total knee arthroplasty. A review

Femoral bone loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common feature and is mainly attributed to three etiological factors. Stress shielding causes an "osteopenia" type of bone loss behind the anterior flange and adjacent to the distal aspects of the femoral component. Using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, decrease in bone mineral density up to 44% has been measured in these areas. Secondly, polyethylene, cement and metal particles are released by implant wear and may cause the less common "osteolysis" type of bone loss located directly at the anterior and posterior implant-cement-bone interfaces. This type of bone loss occurs mainly in young, male, overweight patients with osteoarthritis. Finally, implant loosening leads to bone loss at the bone cement-implant interface and results in "hollowing out" of the distal femur in a stemmed TKA. Femoral bone loss may be reduced by diminishing the stress-shielding effect, by improving the quality of the polyethylene insert, and by decreasing the rate of implant loosening still further. In revision TKA, femoral bone loss is often underestimated in the preoperative radiographs. Classification of bone loss should be made during surgery, and should be based upon the size of the defect generated and the grade of containment. The choice among cement filling, metal augmentation, custom-made TKA, solid bone grafts, and morsellized bone grafts in reconstruction of bone defects will depend upon the type of bone loss, the bone quality, the surgeon's preference and philosophy, and the availability of grafts and implants.