Quadriceps Moment Arm and Quadriceps Forces After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Knee prosthetic designs that increase quadriceps moment arm can reduce quadriceps tension and patellofemoral compressive forces. Six knees from cadavers were tested on the Oxford knee rig, which simulates closed chain knee extension under load. Three conditions were tested sequentially for each knee: Normal, Control (implanted with the Osteonics 7000 knee design), and Scorpio (implanted with the Osteonics Scorpio design). The center of flexion-extension of the Scorpio design was 10 mm posterior to that of Control that served to lengthen the quadriceps moment arm. An electromagnetic tracking system measured dynamic knee kinematics, and a uniaxial load cell measured quadriceps tension. The Scorpio design reduced quadriceps tension when compared with the Normal or Control knee ranging from 5% to 20%. This was statistically significant at flexion angles greater than 50°. In three knees, the patellar component was instrumented with a triaxial load cell that measured patellofemoral forces. Patellofemoral forces were lower with the Scorpio design compared with the Control. Increasing quadriceps lever arm reduces quadriceps forces and can facilitate activities of daily living and enhance patient rehabilitation. Reduced quadriceps forces may result in reduced patellofemoral forces that can have a beneficial effect on anterior knee pain, patellar component wear, and loosening.