[Knee endoprosthesis: biomechanical requirements and consequences]

The experiments described herein permitted the dynamic in vitro measurement of the mechanical efficiency of the quadriceps muscle, both before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The measurement of tibiofemoral pressure on fixed and mobile polyethylene inlays, as well as the movement of mobile inlays, is described. The Interax TKA system was implanted in 8 fresh frozen knee cadavers which were then mounted onto a knee-simulating machine. An isokinetic extension motion was simulated by extending the knee specimens under a constant extension torque of 31 Nm. The quadriceps muscle force required for this motion was not found to increase after implantation of the prostheses. Pressure on the mobile inlay was 60% lower than that measured on the fixed inlay. A 4-mm posterior migration of the mobile inlay on the tibial base plate was observed, with no motion of the inlay femoral component contact surface, which migrated posteriorly in the fixed bearing prosthesis. Thus, instead of moving posteriorly, the mobile inlay femoral component contact area remained at the center of the inlay during the entire extension motion.