Alternative bearings in total knee arthroplasty: risk of early revision compared to traditional bearings: An analysis of 62, 177 primary cases. (1st January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Inacio, Maria C S; Cafri, Guy; Paxton, Elizabeth W; Kurtz, Steven M; Namba, Robert S
• Is Part Of: Acta orthopaedica. Volume 84:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 145
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2013-01-01
• Subjects: Orthopedics -- Periodicals; 616.7005
• DOI: 10.3109/17453674.2013.784660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Background and purpose There is no substantial clinical evidence for the superiority of alternative bearings in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We compared the short-term revision risk in alternative surface bearing knees (oxidized zirconium (OZ) femoral implants or highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) inserts) with that for traditional bearings (cobalt-chromium (CoCR) on conventional polyethelene (CPE)). The risk of revision with commercially available HXLPE inserts was also evaluated. Methods All 62, 177 primary TKA cases registered in a Total Joint Replacement Registry between April 2001 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The endpoints for the analysis were all-cause revisions, septic revisions, or aseptic revisions. Bearing surfaces were categorized as OZ-CPE, CoCr-HXLPE, or CoCr-CPE. HXLPE inserts were stratified according to brand name. Confounding was addressed using propensity score weights. Marginal Cox-regression models adjusting for surgeon clustering were used. Results The proportion of females was 62%. Average age was 68 (SD 9.3) years, and median follow-up time was 2.8 (IQR 1.2–4.9) years. After adjustments, the risks of all-cause, aseptic, and septic revision with CoCr-HXLPE and OZ-CPE bearings were not statistically significantly higher than with traditional CoCr-CPE bearings. No specific brand of HXLPE insert was associated with a higher risk of all-cause, aseptic, or septic revision compared to CoCr-CPE. Interpretation At least in the short term, none of the alternative knee bearings evaluated (CoCr-HXLPE or OZ-CPE) had a greater risk of all-cause, aseptic, and septic revision than traditional CoCr-CPE bearings.