Achieving deep flexion after primary total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty patients often have difficulty performing activities involving flexion beyond 130 degrees. The NexGen LPS Flex (Zimmer Inc, Warsaw, Ind) mobile bearing implant accommodates up to 155 degrees of flexion. Two hundred eighteen total knee arthroplasties were performed using this implant on 125 patients over a 2-year period with a minimum of 5 years follow-up. All data were collected prospectively. Forty-four percent of preoperative cases had full flexion (ie, 140 degrees active flexion and ability to kneel with thigh/calf contact for 1 minute). Five-year data showed an average flexion of 140 degrees +/- 11.5 degrees and flexion greater than 140 degrees in 103 knees (68%). There were no differences in patellofemoral pain levels, complications, or Knee Society scores despite our patients having, on average, an increase in flexion and function.