Research
Current Trials
- Triathlon Total Knee Replacement Study
- Will follow patients prospectively over 5 years to compare the performance and longetivity of this implant to others cohorts.
Primary total knee arthroplasty has consistently shown to be successful in relieving pain and improving function for those experiencing difficulties of degenerative joint disease. In recent years, patient quality of life and return to function have become of greater importance in assessing the success of joint replacement surgery. While essential functions such as walking and stair climbing are of obvious importance in outcomes, patients also expect to return to other daily activities such as shopping, household duties and gardening, to name a few. While knee replacement to date has demonstrated improvement in standard clinical results, studies have shown an increase in the prevalence of knee symptoms when patients were asked about activities that placed greater load on the extremity (carrying shopping bags), or demanded increased knee flexion (gardening, kneeling, squatting). Some literature has indicated that component design (cam – post interactions in posterior stabilized knees and impingement of the posterior aspect of the tibial insert against the posterior aspect of the femur in cruciaite retaining knees) has contributed to patient’s inability or discomfort in performing more demanding activities of daily living.
The Triathlon Knee System has been designed with these activities in mind. Kinematics models of natural knees have observed femoral rollback as the knee goes into deep flexion. Previous implant designs have not been designed to easily facilitate this motion.
Conversely, the Triathlon knee features an anatomic sagittal radius and flared, shortened posterior condyles that work together to provide rotation in deep flexion and proper soft tissue tension throughout the range of motion. While non-clinical testing indicates that the Triathlon Knee System may allow for motion up to 155 degrees, there are many patient factors such as pre-operative range of motion, body mass index, and other concurrent medical conditions that contribute to a person’s ability to achieve deep flexion or perform certain physical tasks. Triathlon CR Outcomes study has been designed to detect significant changes in the mean range of motion of the study population. This study evaluates patients for 5 years using WOMAC, SF-36 and the Krackow Activity Scale, which will help us to asses the level of activities of the patient during the time.
View video of the Triathlon Knee System.
Stryker Orthopaedics Website (http://www.stryker.com/)
Alternative Bearing Surfaces
Follow the link to view the presentation, Alternative Bearings Surfaces in THA
