How prosthetic design influences knee kinematics: a narrative review of tibiofemoral kinematics of healthy and joint-replaced knees

ABSTRACT

Introduction: To improve the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) prosthesis design, it is essential to study the kinematics of the tibiofemoral joint. Many studies have been conducted in this area; however, conflicting results and incomparable testing methods make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions or compare research from studies. The goal of this article is to introduce what is known about both healthy and prosthetic tibiofemoral joint kinematics.

Areas covered: Healthy tibiofemoral joint kinematics are reviewed in vivo by different activities, and the kinematics of existing knee prosthetic design features are considered separately. These features include but are not limited to cruciate retaining, posterior cruciate substituting, mobile-bearing, and high flexion.

Expert commentary: The type of activity that is being performed has a great influence on the kinematics of healthy knees, and the influences of different TKA prosthetic design features on the kinematics are complex and varied. Moreover, the TKA postoperative functional performance is influenced by many factors, and prosthetic design is among them, but not the only one that defines the performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Arthroplasty
• implant
• kinematics
• knee
• tibiofemoral

Authors’ contributions

FM drafted the manuscript. SJ, RS, SS, SSR and JPK critically reviewed the scientific content of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

JP Kretzer has received grants from Biomet, Ceramtec, Corin, Questmed, Smith & Nephew, Impreglon, Aesculap, Hereaus, and Endocon. JP Kretzer has also received both grants and personal fees from DePuy Synthes, Link, Falcon Medical, and Peter Brehm. S Jaeger has received grants from DePuy Synthes, Aesculap, Link, Heraeus, Implantcast, and Zimmer Biomet. R Sonntag has received personal fees from AMTI, has received grants from Ceramtec, Corin, Questmed, Smith & Nephew, Falcon Medical, has received grants and personal fees from DePuy Synthes. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The paper was not funded.