Background: Recently, there has been increasing interest in mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, changes in biomechanics with respect to femoral component alignment in mobile-bearing TKA have not been explored in depth. This study aims to evaluate the biomechanical effect of sagittal alignment of the femoral component in mobile-bearing TKA.
Methods: We developed femoral sagittal alignment models with - 3°, 0°, 3°, 5°, and 7°. We also examined the kinematics of the tibiofemoral (TF) joint, contact point on the TF joint, contact stress on the patellofemoral (PF) joint, collateral ligament force, and quadriceps force using a validated computational model under a deep-knee-bend condition.
Results: Posterior kinematics of the TF joint increased as the femoral component flexed. In addition, contact stress on the PF joint, collateral ligament force, and quadriceps force decreased as the femoral component flexed. The results of this study can assist surgeons in assessing risk factors associated with femoral component sagittal alignment for mobile-bearing TKA.
Conclusions: Our results showed that slight flexion implantation may be an effective alternative technique because of its advantageous biomechanical effect. However, excessive flexion should be avoided because of potential loosening of the TF joint.
Keywords: Finite element analysis; Malalignment; Mobile-bearing; Total knee arthroplasty.