Comparison of fixed and mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty in terms of patellofemoral pain and function: a prospective, randomised, controlled trial

• Main Authors: P. Z. Feczko, L. M. Jutten, M. J. van Steyn, P. Deckers, P. J. Emans, J. J. Arts
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-06-01
• Series: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Subjects: Total knee arthroplasty; Anterior knee pain; Mobile bearing; Fixed bearing
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12891-017-1635-9

Abstract Background Despite growing evidence in the literature, there is still a lack of consensus regarding the use of the mobile-bearing (MB) design total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods In a prospective, comparative, randomised, single centre trial, 106 patients with end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee were randomised to either an MB or fixed-bearing (FB) group to receive posterior stabilised (PS)-TKA using a standard medial parapatellar approach and patellar resurfacing with follow-up (FU) for 5 years. The primary outcome was anterior knee pain (AKP) during the chair rise test and the stair climb test 5 years after surgery. The secondary outcome was the ability to rise from a chair and to climb stairs, range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Score (KSS), RAND-36 scores and radiological analysis of the patellar tilt. Results No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups at 5 years FU in terms of median AKP during the chair rise test and the stair climb test (p = 0.5 and p = 0.8, respectively). There was no significant difference in any of the other secondary outcome parameters between the groups at 5 years FU. Conclusion A mobile-bearing TKA does not decrease AKP compared to fixed bearings. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02892838 . Level of evidence II