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Repeated early failure of a newly designed hinged knee system
Joshua K L Lee1, Vikram Chatrath, Paul R Kim
1Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital/University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The Journal of Arthroplasty
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Accelerated wear in the Zimmer Segmental Knee System caused recurvatum deformity, necessitating multiple revision surgeries. A custom modification prevented further deformity, highlighting design inadequacy.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomedical engineering
- Materials science
Background:
- The Zimmer Segmental Knee System is a revision knee prosthesis designed for complex cases.
- Hinged knee systems aim to restore stability and function in patients with severe knee joint destruction.
Observation:
- A case of acute and recurrent accelerated wear of polyethylene bushings in the hinge mechanism was observed.
- This wear led to an unacceptable recurvatum deformity (knee bending backward).
Findings:
- The hinge post mechanism in the current design was found to be inadequate, contributing to significant recurvatum deformity.
- The accelerated wear necessitated multiple revision knee operations for the patient.
Implications:
- Surgeons should be aware of the potential for hinge mechanism wear and subsequent deformity with this revision knee system.
- Custom modifications may be required to address design limitations and prevent complications.
- Further investigation into the hinge design of this and similar revision knee systems is warranted.