Contents
- Introduction
- Types of total knee replacement
- Cemented vs. uncemented
- Mobile bearing or fixed bearing
- Implant materials
- "Total" or "partial" knee replacement - the big debate!
- Patellofemoral replacements
- Other replacements
- Spacers
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Post-operative expectations
- Summary
Introduction
Total knee replacement has become an increasingly frequently performed procedure and although it has always been perceived as lagging behind total hip replacements both numerically and in terms of results, there are now more knee replacements performed annually in the UK than total hip replacements. The knee joint is undoubtedly a more complex joint than the hip and results in terms of function and satisfaction have to be considered in the light of this. This article will seek to clarify the current position regarding:
- What are the different types of knee replacement?
- Is partial or total knee replacement best?
- Have all options been explored?
- What can you expect of your new knee?
- What is the marketing hype and what are the facts?
- What is the latest thinking and what are the latest technologies?
Types of total knee replacement
The National Joint Registry (NJR), which has been established in the last decade to provide information on results of joint replacements including knee replacement, provides valuable information regarding the current usage of joint replacement in the UK.
In the most recently published report there were 54 different types of total knee replacement being used in the UK although 3 makes represent 60% of the overall number. The majority of these replacements conform to a very similar design and are predominantly a surface type replacement and the relatively few hinged type prostheses tend to be used only in specific circumstances, including very unstable knees or in revision surgery.
Much of the widely held concern regarding long term results of knee replacement is based on problems associated with hinge replacements in the past, which by their constrained nature led to higher instances of loosening and fracture than would be the case of the more current prostheses.
The National Joint Registry will hopefully pick up evidence of any type of joint replacement with a high early failure rate. To date fortunately there have been very few examples of large scale early failures, such as occurred with the 3M capital hip replacement. None the less, vigilance remains extremely important as relatively small changes in designs of joint replacement can lead to significant changes in results. There have been changes in materials used in joint replacements and also changes in the method of preparation of the polyethylene inserts which have led to some differences in results. However, overall, surgeons will tend to choose their prostheses on the basis of their own personal experience and evidence, when available, on survival rates of joint replacement preferably over at least a 10 year period. One of the difficulties with assessing long term survival rates with a joint replacement is that often there have been changes in either the materials or design during that period and comparing current prostheses with previous prostheses is not always accurate.
I will discuss briefly a few areas of design that are particularly relevant.
Cemented vs. uncemented
In hip replacement this is a discussion that is regarded as a major issue but in knee replacement it would appear this is much less of a significant issue.
The majority of knee replacements in the UK are cemented and apart from a very small number of people who may have some potential allergic type issues related to cement, there is very little evidence to suggest that there is any difference between results of uncemented or cemented prostheses.
Mobile bearing or fixed bearing
One of the most significant reasons for failure of the prostheses is wear of the polyethylene insert leading to aseptic (non-infected) loosening of the metal components. By using a mobile type bearing, the amount of wear of the polyethylene may be reduced. However, in clinical practice there has been little evidence to demonstrate a difference between the results, either functionally or in the long term.
Implant materials
The majority of implants are made of cobolt chrome and/or titanium, other materials are being assessed and these include oxidised zirconium. The aim is to find a material that will reduce friction within the joint and thereby reduce wear and loosening.
"Total" or "partial" knee replacement – the big debate!
The most significant ongoing debate within knee replacement surgery is the use of partial replacement or total knee replacement. Partial replacements are either ‘unicompartmental’ replacement, which is predominately medial compartment replacement, or ‘patellofemoral’ replacement. There are also a small number of replacements which aim to replace two compartments, normally the medial and patellofemoral joints.
My personal view is that all of these replacements, be they total or partial, are joint replacements with their attendant risks and benefits. I do not think that the line: “It is only a partial replacement” has any relevance. My view is that you should first of all assess the patient in terms of individual symptoms, clinical findings, quality of life and functional disability as this should determine whether or not a joint replacement is indicated. Having made that first decision, then the options of a total joint or partial replacement can be considered.
In the UK at the current time the vast majority of replacements are total knee replacements. Over 61,000 cases are recorded each year and in the latest report from the NJR 88% were total knee replacements, 5% were unicompartmental replacements, 1% were patellofemoral joint replacements and 6% were revisions.
Despite the enthusiasm for partial replacements and the promotion of this option, it is surprising that the proportion of the replacements that are unicompartmental joints remains so small. There are a number of explanations for this, one of which is that not all patients are suitable for unicompartmental replacement and there is no doubt that if you have advanced arthritis affecting all compartments of the knee, inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, significant osteoporosis or poor ligament function, that unicompartmental replacement is unlikely to be recommended. In addition, some surgeons are uncomfortable with considering a unicompartmental replacement and it is certainly worth discussing this option with your surgeon, in particular as to the reason why a unicompartmental replacement is not considered. As mentioned previously there are many reasons that may preclude unicompartmental replacement but there are certainly a lot of patients who would be suitable candidates but that receive total joint replacements. In the younger patients an alternative to unicompartmental replacement may be tibial osteotomy (re-aligning of the tibial bone) and this again is an area of discussion with any surgeon as to whether this would be an option rather than a replacement.
Overall the results of unicompartmental replacement are very good but I do believe these results would have to be viewed with some caution when compared to total knee replacement. In my own practice, the patients who are suitable for unicompartmental replacement tend to be younger, more active and with less joint disease at the time of their surgery. Overall, however, if suitable the patient receiving unicompartmental replacement tends to have a better gait pattern, better range of motion post surgery and are more likely to have a more “normal” feel to the knee than those receiving total replacements.
You should always ask your surgeon if a partial, or ‘unicompartmental’ replacement might be a better option for you than total knee replacement. The younger patient should also ask if a Tibial Osteotomy might be a better option.
Jonathon Lavelle
Patellofemoral replacements
Only 1% of joint replacements performed in the UK currently are isolated patellofemoral replacements. Nonetheless patients with isolated patellofemoral disease can suffer significant restriction of activity and pain from this and the replacement can offer considerable benefit.
Other replacements
There are other designs and types of replacement that have been promoted. Currently there is a lot of marketing towards gender specific knee replacement on the basis of the anatomical difference between the male and female knee. Although there may be some benefits conferred in a small proportion of patients, the general consensus is that this represents more of a marketing position than necessarily providing a huge benefit in terms of results or long term benefit. The jury remains out on this particular development.
Spacers
Over the years there have been attempts to avoid replacement by using inserts within the joint to protect the surfaces and try and prevent pain. Unfortunately despite advances in the design of these, the results to date have been generally disappointing and unless more promising results are forthcoming, I think they should be regarded as experimental and a “work in progress”.
Minimally invasive surgery
There have been moves both with hip replacements and knee replacements to minimise the soft tissue damage during the course of surgery by performing so-called minimally invasive surgery. The nature of knee replacement prostheses mean this is difficult to achieve but there is no doubt by reducing surgical exposure recovery can be quicker. Instruments have been designed to facilitate this process and although knee replacements are not truly “minimally invasive” they are less invasive. The length of stay has been much reduced over the years, which is no doubt of considerable benefit as it minimises risks inherent in longer term hospitalisation. It is possible to imagine that ultimately but current replacements could be performed as either day cases or at least very short stays.
Post-operative expectations
Knee replacements are primarily designed to relieve pain and allow improvement in mobility. However, as the expectations of recipients of knee replacements increase there is greater demand being put on the prosthesis. It is my opinion that a knee replacement is entirely satisfactory for lower impact activity such as golf and doubles tennis and many patients manage to ski following a knee replacement. I do not believe that higher impact activities on a regular basis, such as running, is sensible. The risk of early loosening and wear is such, that, in my opinion running and jumping as well, should be avoided. Patients are often concerned about kneeling but there is no reason that this should be avoided although some patients find the sensation of kneeling can be quite uncomfortable. We are often asked whether their replacements set off alarms at airports, this is very variable but with increasing security and sensitivity it does appear that more and more frequently airport security alarms are set off at airports.
Summary
I do believe that knee replacements offer significant quality of life improvement in appropriately selected patients but the complexity of the joint does mean that direct comparison with hip replacement is probably misleading. I do believe there is a significant place for partial replacements but the indications and indeed contra-indications have to be very carefully adhered to. There are ongoing developments in all aspects of knee replacement surgery but the conventional design of total knee replacements have served their purpose well for many years with good long term replacement survival rates and good function. It is with caution we should move away from the current established designs without good evidence of short and long term benefits.
