Short-term survival analysis of the all-polyethylene tibial component in total knee arthroplasty

To report the clinical and radiological results of 24 total knee arthroplasty in which all-polyethylene tibial components were used.

Between December 2000 and December 2002, 24 cemented total knee arthroplasty in 21 patients were performed using all-polyethylene tibial components. The mean age of the 21 patients (9 men and 12 women) at operation was 55 years, ranging 48-61 years. The mean preoperative hospital for special surgery (HSS) score was 40.2 (range, 36-43). The diagnoses were degenerative osteoarthritis in 15 patients, rheumatoid arthritis in 5 and traumatic arthritis in 1. All the operations were performed by the same surgeon group and there were unilateral operations in 18 patients and bilateral operations in 3.

Eighteen patients were followed up with a follow-up rate of 85.7%. The mean follow-up is 2.5 years (range, 1-3 years) and mean postoperative HSS scores was 87.5 (range, 83-89). Among them, 18 were excellent, 3 good, 3 poor and none was fair (the results of three lost patients were classified as poor). Of those reviewed, the prosthesis was all in situ and no revision occurred. Radiological assessment of these patients revealed 4 (16.67%) tibial components with radiolucent lines (mean width < or = 2 mm) distributed mainly in zone 1 and zone 4. None of these knees was symptomatic.

The result of total knee arthroplasty using all-polyethylene tibial components is encouraging. The operative techniques are similar to those in arthroplasty using metal-backed tibial component.