Total knee arthroplasty. Two- to four-year experience using an asymmetric tibial tray and a deep trochlear-grooved...

The design features of an implant system can be crucial to the success of cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The implant system described in this study incorporates anatomic features including an asymmetric tibial tray that is smaller laterally than medially, and a deep trochlear-grooved femoral component. Two hundred consecutive primary total knees were implanted between October 18, 1985 and January 19, 1988 and were followed prospectively. One hundred ninety-two were implanted without cement. Clinical evaluation demonstrates good or excellent results in 96%, including a mean range of motion of 122 at two to four years after arthroplasty. Routine fluoroscopic spot roentgenograms have shown no complete radiolucency in this series of patients. Bone ingrowth was predictable if morselized autograft bone was interposed between implant and host bone. Implant retrievals demonstrated uniform bone ingrowth into the porous coating, increasing to 40% of the pore volume in the tibial tray at 27 months. Restoration of the normal kinematics appears to minimize the bone-implant stress permitting bone ingrowth fixation. The results of primary cementless TKA in this series is comparable to cemented TKA with the advantage of conserving bone stock.