Can TKA design affect the clinical outcome? Comparison between two guided-motion systems

Purpose

In a retrospective comparative analysis in patients undergoing primary guided-motion total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the authors have evaluated whether different TKA implant design would influence the clinical and functional outcomes.

Methods

Between 2007 and 2009, 227 computer-assisted primary TKAs were performed in 219 consecutive patients. Patients received one of the two different fixed-bearing guided-motion TKA designs assisted by navigation surgery: the Scorpio Non-Restrictive Geometry (NRG) knee system and the Journey Bi-Cruciate Stabilized (BCS) knee systems.

Results

Data were available for 180 patients (187 knees). No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to preoperative demographic characteristics, range of motion (ROM) and radiographic knee alignment. At a mean follow-up of 29 months, the Journey BCS group had higher mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in all subscales and a greater ROM than the Scorpio NRG group. This difference was statistically significant for the KOOS subscales of pain (p = 0.007) and knee-related quality of life (p = 0.045), as well as for postoperative ROM (p = 0.018). Considering the overall complications, 1 patient of Scorpio NRG group (0.5 %) and 5 in Journey BCS (2.7 %) had stiffness. Anterior knee pain was reported in 4 cases of Scorpio NRG group (2.1 %). In the Journey BCS group were observed 2 cases (1.1 %) of frontal plane instability and 1 case (0.5 %) of synovitis pain.

Conclusions

The bearing geometry and kinematic pattern of different guided-motion prosthetic designs can affect the clinical–functional outcome and complications type in primary TKA.

Level of evidence

Clinical study, Level III.