Contact areas and pressures between native patellas and prosthetic femoral components

J. B. Benjamin, J. A. Szivek, A. S. Hammond, Z. Kubchandhani, Jr Matthews, P. Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Contact areas and pressures between native patellas and a prosthetic condylar design femoral component were measured at flexion angles of 30°, 60°, and 90°. These were compared to measurements obtained with a domed all-polyethylene patellar component. Mean native patellar contact areas were found to be fourfold greater than seen with the prosthetic patellar component. Contact stresses in the native patellas were below the yield strength of articular cartilage in 80% of the contact area. By contrast, stresses measured in the prosthetic patella exceeded the yield strength of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene in 64% of the measured contact area. Contact areas and stresses were not significantly effected by flexion angle. Although contact areas and stresses reflect only a part of the dynamics of the patellofemoral articulation this information would support the selective retention of the native patella in total knee arthroplasty.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)693-698
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Arthroplasty
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Keywords

  • Contact area
  • Patella
  • Stresses
  • Total knee arthroplasty

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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