Tibial fixation without screws in cementless knee arthroplasty.

Abstract

This study reexamines the clinical and radiologic results of the first 216 cases of a cementless fixed-bearing tibial tray without screw holes in 191 patients at 7.6-year follow-up (range, 5-10 years). Mean Hospital for Special Surgery scores improved from 54/100 preoperatively to 84/100 postoperatively. Four tibial baseplates were revised. Five polyethylene inserts were revised. The overall reoperation rate was 12%. Four percent of tibial baseplates had incomplete nonprogressive radiolucent lines involving 1 or 2 of 10 defined zones. Overall tibial osteolysis rate was 4.1%. All tibial components were stable by radiographic technique. We conclude that this tibial tray provides reliable stability without the use of screws at medium-term follow-up. The polyethylene failure rate is a concern.