Highly Cross-linked Polyethylene Versus Conventional Polyethylene in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: Comparable Clinical and Radiological Results at a 10-year Follow-up

Overview

Journal Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc

Publisher Wiley

Specialties Emergency Medicine
General Surgery
Orthopedics

Date 2022 Nov 21

PMID 36409325

Authors

Fortunato Giustra

Alessandro Bistolfi

Francesco Bosco

Nicolo Fresia

Luigi Sabatini

Paola Berchialla

Veronica Sciannameo

Alessandro Masse

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) was introduced in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to reduce wear and consequent revisions for loosening due to conventional polyethylene (CPE) wear. This study aims to analyse whether HXLPE is as safe as CPE and could improve the TKA clinical and radiological results in a long-term follow-up.

Methods: This retrospective study included all consecutive starting series of 223 patients with severe primary knee osteoarthritis (OA), with a minimum follow-up of 10 years treated between July 1st, 2007, and July 31st, 2010. After excluding patients who did not respect the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 128 patients were included in the analysis of this study. The patients were then divided into two groups according to the type of polyethylene (PE) implanted: CPE or HXLPE liners. All patients were evaluated for clinical and radiological parameters, causes and revision rates related to the type of PE implanted.

Results: HXLPE appears to be as safe as CPE in TKA, reporting no higher revisions for osteolysis, prosthesis loosening, infection, and mechanical failure. Nevertheless, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in the clinical and radiological outcomes evaluated.

Conclusions: Clinical, radiological results, and revision rates are similar between HXLPE and CPE in TKA after 10 years of follow-up, although HXLPE benefits remain controversial.

Level Of Evidence: III.

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