Postural stability after patient-specific interpositional knee spacer or total knee arthroplasty: a comparative...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is effective for knee osteoarthritis, but concerns remain regarding proprioception and stability.
• Patient-specific interpositional devices (PSIDs) offer a joint-preserving alternative, potentially enhancing outcomes by maintaining bone stock and cruciate ligaments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional results, proprioception, and postural stability between PSIDs and TKA.
• To investigate if PSIDs provide superior proprioception and postural stability compared to TKA.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study of 20 patients receiving PSIDs (Group A) and 20 patients receiving TKA (Group B).
• Functional outcomes assessed using Knee Society Score (KSS) and WOMAC index at 16 months.
• Postural stability evaluated via single-leg stance on a force platform (Biodex).

Main Results:

• No significant differences in functional results were observed between PSIDs and TKA at 16 months.
• Significant differences in postural stability were found between the groups.
• Operated legs achieved stability comparable to non-operated legs in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Knee osteoarthritis treatment, regardless of device type, can restore postural stability to the level of the unaffected limb.
• Superior postural stability in PSIDs compared to TKA was potentially influenced by age differences between the study groups.
• Preservation of soft tissue and bone stock in PSIDs may contribute to improved stability outcomes.