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Tibial Plateau Abrasion in Mobile Bearing Knee Systems During Walking Gait III: A Finite Element Study

Mar 7, 2004 | Knee

The abrasion observed in ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) total knee arthroplasty component retrievals is the result of high cyclical loads, which act on the tibial plateau during daily ambulation. This dynamic process influences in vivo component longevity and is dependent on the magnitude and distribution of contact stresses on the tibial plateau. Mobile bearing knee systems offer increased component conformity over their fixed plateau counterparts and thus diminish the magnitudes of these contact stresses. This study reveals the contact areas and stresses that are associated with tibial insert abrasion in four mobile bearing knee designs during three highly loaded points in the walking gait cycle, and suggests their efficacy in clinical use.

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