Long-Term Assessment of Highly Cross-Linked and Compression-Molded Polyethylene Inserts for Posterior...

The purpose of the present study was to determine the long-term clinical and radiographic results, survival rate, prevalence of osteolysis, and prevalence of fracture of the tibial polyethylene insert following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Three hundred patients (600 knees) were included in this follow-up study. The mean age of the patients (and standard deviation) was 60.3 ± 4.3 years, and the mean duration of follow-up was 13.2 years (range, 12 to 14 years). Revision of the TKA prosthesis was performed in 7 knees (2.3%) with a compression-molded polyethylene (CPE) tibial insert and 6 knees (2%) with a highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) tibial insert. The rate of survival at 14 years was 97.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94%-100%) in the CPE group and 98% (95% CI, 94%-100%) in the HXLPE group with reoperation for any reason as the end point. The rate of survival at 14 years was 98% (95% CI, 94%-100%) in both groups with reoperation for mechanical failure as the end point. No knee had osteolysis or fracture of the tibial polyethylene insert. There were no between-group differences. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic Level I. See Instruction for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.