Kathryn M. Coughlin

Tibial Axis and Patellar Position Relative to the Femoral Epicondylar Axis during Squatting

A laboratory-based study was performed to describe the tibial axis and patellar position relative to the femoral epicondylar (FE) axis during squatting. During the squat, the angle between the tibial and FE axes averaged 90.5 degrees, and 66% of internal rotation of the tibia occurred before 15 degrees flexion. In the mid-sagittal plane of the femur, the patella followed a circular arc, and mediolateral patellar shift averaged 4.3 mm. These findings can be used as the basis for development of new total knee arthroplasty components that recreate normal patellofemoral kinematics, and may provide important guidelines for alignment of the tibial and femoral components. The perpendicular relationship between the tibial and the FE axes may be useful in locating the FE axis intraoperatively. The reduced mediolateral shift of the patella suggests that alignment of the femoral component with the FE axis will aid patellar tracking about a circular arc with small deviations in the medial-lateral direction.

Early revision for component malrotation in total knee arthroplasty

Component malrotation may result in unsuccessful total knee arthroplasty. We asked whether revision improves function in patients with malrotated total knee arthroplasty components. We retrospectively reviewed 22 revision total knee arthroplasties performed for femoral and/or tibial component malrotation. Revision surgery was performed within 2 years of the primary arthroplasty in 81% of the cases (18 of 22) with the remainder within 5 years. Although all patients had pain, 32% of patients had associated instability and 36% of patients had poor range of motion. Average Knee Society Scores improved from 42 preoperatively to 77 postoperatively. Average Oxford Knee Scores improved from 38 preoperatively to 29 postoperatively. Although clini cal and functional improvement was observed, these results are inferior to those for primary knee arthroplasty, and they emphasize the need for proper component rotational positioning during primary total knee arthroplasty. Internal component malrotation leads not only to patellofemoral problems, but also to difficulty in gap balancing and femoral component sizing, which may in turn lead to either poor range of motion or symptoms of knee instability.Level of Evidence: Level IV, diagnostic study. See the Guide lines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Anatomic rotational relationships of the proximal tibia, distal femur, and patella: Implications for rotational alignment in total knee arthroplasty

The orientation of the femur, tibia, and patella are important considerations in total knee arthroplasty. Our goal was to describe the relationships between the femoral epicondylar (FE) axis, posterior femoral (PF) axis, posterior tibial (PT) axis, patellar (PAT) axis, and patellar ligament (PL). A secondary goal was to determine where the short axis of the tibial tray intersects the patellar ligament as a function of tibial component rotation. Thirty normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were analyzed. Strong relationships were found between the FE and PAT axes (2 degrees +/- 3 degrees, r(2) = 0.73), and between the FE and PF axes (6 degrees +/- 2 degrees, r(2) = 0.77). When the tibial baseplate was aligned along the PT axis, 30% of the cases were in an ideal position. When the FE axis was used, 73% were ideal.

Effects of increased chronic loading on articular cartilage material properties in the lapine tibio-femoral joint.

Methods of producing relevant and quantifiable load alterations in vivo with which to study load-induced cartilage degeneration analogous to osteoarthritis are limited. An animal model was used to investigate the effects of increased chronic loads on articular cartilage. Mature rabbits were randomized into one of three experimentally loaded groups and a fourth unoperated control group. A mechanical-loading device was skeletally fixed to the hind limb of animals in the loaded groups. Engaging the device resulted in an additional load of 0%, +22% or +44% body weight to the medial compartment of the experimental knee, while allowing normal joint function. Following a 12-week loading protocol, a creep-indentation test and needle probe test were used to determine the biphasic material properties and thickness of the cartilage at four locations of each femoral and tibial condyle of the experimental and contralateral limbs. Analyses of covariance were performed to compare outcome measures across the treatment groups. The effect of increased load was site and load-level specific with alterations of material properties and thickness most prominent in the posterior region of the medial compartment of the tibia. At this site, permeability increased 128% and thickness increased 28% in the +44% body weight group relative to the 0% body weight group. This model of altered chronic loading initiated changes in the material properties to the articular cartilage at the sites of increased load over 12-weeks that were consistent with early degenerative changes suggesting that increased tibio-femoral loading may be responsible for the alterations. This work begins to elucidate the chronic-load threshold and the time course of cartilage degeneration at different levels of altered loading.

Total Hip Arthroplasty with the Secur-Fit and Secur-Fit Plus Femoral Stem Design. A Brief Follow-Up Report at 5 to 10 Years

This report represents a 5- to 10-year follow-up of our initial 2- to 5-year data with this proximally hydroxyapatite-coated stem design (Secur-Fit, Stryker Orthopaedics, Mahwah, NJ). This is a retrospective review of a single surgeons consecutive cases. A total of 105 cases were available for complete review. The average follow-up was 6.7 years (60-123 months). All stems achieved bony ingrowth. Harris hip score and Oxford hip score averaged to 91 and 17, respectively, with no differences seen between the 132 degrees and the 127 degrees stem designs. Leg length measurements were considered equal side-to-side differences of 7 mm or less in 87% of cases: 82% of standard- and 92% of high-offset cases (P < .05). Four cases of osteolysis were identified and occurred only in patients with an elevated rim liner, implicating neck-liner impingement. The stem design performed exceedingly well over the course of this study. Having a high-offset option aids the surgeon in proper leg length management.