Comparison of in vivo patellofemoral kinematics for subjects having high-flexion total knee arthroplasty implant with patients having normal knees.

This study compares the in vivo patellar kinematics of high-flexion posterior cruciate ligament-retaining and posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty (TKA) implants with that of the healthy knee. Twenty-seven subjects performing weight-bearing deep knee bends were analyzed under fluoroscopic surveillance from full extension to maximum flexion. The patellofemoral contact positions and patellar flexion were similar for both TKAs. At low flexion, the patellofemoral contact was significantly more distal on the healthy patella than on the TKA patella, but in deeper flexion, there was no difference among the 3 groups. The tibiopatellar angle was similar for all 3 groups, except at deep flexion where the healthy patella rotated significantly more than the implanted ones. Patellofemoral separation was observed in some TKA knees, whereas it was absent in the healthy knees.