Tibial Component Migration After Total Knee Arthroplasty With High-Viscosity Bone Cement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• High-viscosity (HV) bone cements are designed for improved handling during orthopedic procedures.
• Altered cement handling characteristics may impact implant fixation and long-term survival.
• Assessing the migration of tibial components fixed with HV cement is crucial for understanding its clinical performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the migration of the Triathlon tibial component when fixed with Simplex High-Viscosity (HV) bone cement.
• To compare the migration patterns of HV cement with a control group using medium-viscosity cement.
• To assess implant fixation stability and clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty.

Main Methods:

• Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) was employed to track component migration in 23 patients over two years.
• Migration data were compared against established thresholds for aseptic loosening.
• Oxford 12 Knee Scores and patient satisfaction were recorded to evaluate functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• Mean maximum total point motion migration remained stable at approximately 0.40-0.41 mm at one and two years, below acceptable thresholds.
• Migration patterns were not significantly different from a control group using medium-viscosity cement.
• Oxford 12 Knee Scores significantly improved postoperatively, indicating positive functional recovery.

Conclusions:

• High-viscosity bone cement provides an acceptable pattern of tibial component migration in total knee arthroplasty.
• The use of HV cement is associated with a low risk of aseptic loosening at the two-year follow-up.
• Stable fixation and improved functional outcomes support the use of HV cement in total knee arthroplasty.