Anterior Tibial Post Impingement During Stair Climbing: A Kinematic Analysis and Clinical Outcomes

Anterior tibial post impingement during gait and stair ambulation was reported in knees with posterior-stabilized prostheses. However, the link between anterior post impingement and knee kinematics and between anterior post impingement and the clinical outcome has not been well investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the anterior impingement to clarify the relevant kinematics and clinical results including patient-reported outcomes.

We analyzed 40 well-functioning knees in 20 patients with a posterior-stabilized prosthesis due to osteoarthritis and who were followed up for 2 years or more. Dynamic lateral radiographs during stair-climbing activity were analyzed using a shape-matching technique, and anterior post impingement and the clinical outcome were assessed.

Anterior impingement of the tibial post was observed in 13 knees (33%) during the latter half of the stance phase and at the beginning of the swing phase with the average implant flexion angle of -2.4°. Implant flexion was significantly smaller, while the femoral component was located more posterior in the impingement knees. The posterior tibial slope was significantly greater in the impingement group (6.7° ± 2.0°, 5.3° ± 1.9°, respectively; P = .041); however, no significant differences were demonstrated in anteroposterior laxity and patient-derived assessments.

To avoid anterior post impingement, the posterior tibial slope should be made at 5° or less. Femoral notch-anterior post articulation should be designed to have good congruency in order to act as an anterior stabilizer in the case of impingement at knee extension.