LINKED TOTAL KNEE PROSTHESES
These total knee prostheses permit flexion and extension and allow for a limited rotation. The linked total knee prostheses, however, prevent movements to both sides (abduction and adduction) of the knee joint.
The limited amount of rotation, that these prostheses allow , improves gait and decreases stresses on the bone -skeleton interface created by walk and other activities. Thus, in contrast to the old true hinged total knees, the linked total knee prostheses have lover rates of complications.
These total knee joints are used in knees with severe instability due to destruction of knee joint ligaments and severe bone loss.
Severe knee joint instability is often the result of a failed total knee surgery
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Model of a linked total knee: Click on the icon for a full size image The femoral component is made of metal and has an independent tube for insertion of a metallic tibial axle. The tube can rotate around a transversal axle attached to the femoral component. The tibial component consist of metallic plate that has a vertical metal axle in the middle. During the operation the surgeon puts the vertical tibial metal axle into the tube in the femoral components. The components are now linked together. The linked total knee can rotate around the vertical axis going through the vertical metal axle and it can bend and extend around a transverse axis going through the horizontal axle. Metal axles are covered by thick polyethylene bushings. Polyethylene bushings prevent direct contact between the metal axles and the femoral and tibial metal components. The polyethylene bushings are the principal weight-bearing surfaces of the linked total knee joint prosthesis. |
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