Fixed Versus Rotating Platform Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blind Study

• Published in: The Journal of arthroplasty 2011-06, Vol.26 (4), p.531-536
• Main Authors: Ball, Scott T., MD, Sanchez, Hugo B., MD, PhD, Mahoney, Ormonde M., MD, Schmalzried, Thomas P., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Arthralgia - epidemiology; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; high flexion; Humans; Incidence; Knee Joint - physiology; Knee Joint - surgery; Knee Prosthesis; Male; Middle Aged; mobile bearing; Orthopedics; Osteoarthritis, Knee - physiopathology; Osteoarthritis, Knee - surgery; Prospective Studies; Prosthesis Design; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; rotating platform; Single-Blind Method; stair climbing; total knee arthroplasty; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0883-5403; 1532-8406
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2010.06.003

Abstract The purpose of this randomized, single-blind clinical trial was to compare a rotating platform (RP) total knee arthroplasty to a fixed-bearing (FB) total knee arthroplasty. Ninety-five knees in 69 patients were implanted by 2 surgeons. There were no significant differences in the preoperative demographics. At a minimum of 2-year follow-up, clinical outcomes and complication rates were similar, with the exception that the RP group had significantly better stair-climbing scores ( P = .04). Postoperative range of motion was equally good in both groups (FB knees, 1°-125°; RP knees, 1-126°). There were no bearing dislocations in the RP group. In conclusion, this RP design performs at least as well as the FB version, and the RP patients reported better stair-climbing ability. Enthusiasm for this finding should be tempered by the relatively small sample size.