Functional Outcomes are Comparable Between Posterior Stabilized and Cruciate-Substituting Total Knee Arthroplasty Designs at Short-Term Follow-up

Posterior stabilized (PS) polyethylene inserts have been shown to have excellent long-term functional results following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A cruciate-substituting (CS) design has been introduced to minimize bony resection and eliminate concerns regarding wear on the PS post. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent TKA using either a PS or CS insert.

We reviewed a consecutive series of 5970 patients who underwent a cruciate-sacrificing TKA and received either a PS (3,314) or CS (2,656) polyethylene liner. We compared demographics, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Jr (KOOS Jr), Short-Form 12 (SF-12) scores, and revision rates between the groups at a minimum 2 years followup. A multivariate regression was performed to identify the independent effect of design on functional outcomes.

Revision rates between the groups were comparably low (0.35% for PS vs 0.51% for CS, P = .466) at an overall mean follow-up of 43 months. Patients in the PS cohort had statistically higher KOOS Jr scores at 2 years (69.8 vs 72.9, P < .001). Multivariate regression analysis found CS patients to have lower postoperative KOOS Jr scores (estimate −2.26, P = .003), and less overall improvement in KOOS Jr scores (estimate −2.42, P = .024) than PS patients, but neither was a clinically significant difference.

Patients who undergo TKA with a CS polyethylene insert have comparable functional outcomes and revision rates to those with a PS design at short-term follow-up. Longer follow-up is needed to determine whether CS can match the outstanding track record of PS TKA.