Design features of total knees for achieving normal knee motion characteristics

The goal of the study was to achieve a normal neutral anatomical path of motion with a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using specific motion-guiding design features. Two reference TKA models were used, consisting of a partially conforming double-dished geometry and the same with a central cam-post for femoral rollback. Four experimental TKA models included features to produce femoral rollback with and without guidance for tibial rotation, and a feature to prevent paradoxical anterior femoral sliding. The femur was loaded down the tibial axis, and the femoral-tibial positions were recorded at a sequence of flexion angles. Subsequently, the positions were recorded with an anterior shear force superimposed. Software was used to reconstruct the paths of the transverse femoral axis on the tibia, during a full flexion range. The reference knees did not reproduce a normal neutral path of motion. However, this was achieved with an experimental design incorporating all of the motion-guiding features.