Effect of posterior design changes on postoperative flexion angle in cruciate retaining mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty

The Dual Bearing Knee (DBK) prosthesis is a new concept which has a mobile-bearing insert. In May 2001, the posterior femoral condyle design of the DBK was changed to become smaller and there was a posterior shift in the base of the insert dish (Hi-Flex). Between 1998 and 2004, 371 DBKs (112 Hi-Flex and 220 Standard) were performed by one surgical team. There was a significant difference in postoperative flexion angle between the Hi-Flex and Standard DBKs (117.0° and 111.3°; p = 0.001). The delta flexion angle in the Hi-Flex (−2.4°) was significantly increased compared with that in the Standard DBK (−9.6°) (p = 0.001). In the Hi-Flex DBK, the postoperative flexion angle (5.7°) and the delta flexion angle (7.2°) were significantly larger than for the Standard DBK (p < 0.001). These results suggest that the flexion is greater for a design with smaller posterior condyle prosthesis and with a posterior shift in the base of the insert dish in CR mobile-bearing TKA.