A novel three-dimensional model for evaluation of unicompartmental knee prostheses tibial component positioning

Abstract

Background and objective

This study aimed to develop an innovative method to assess the optimal positioning of the tibial component in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Furthermore, the authors performed a pilot study on tibial bone resections after having performed the tibial saw cuts of unicompartmental knee prostheses in 0° and 3° in the coronal plane.

Materials and methods

The study’s objective was achieved by devising a surface matching technique that involved comparing the tibial bone resections with three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design models of the selected tibial component. 44 bone resections of patients who had undergone unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with tibial resection angles of 0° and 3° varus in the coronal plane were evaluated in the pilot study. Furthermore, the possibility of evaluating the biological quality of the resection surface by examining the percentage of sclerotic bone in the most distal cut surface of the bony specimen was analyzed.

Results

A new method to evaluate bony resections using a three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design model could be implemented. The implementation study including 44 tibial resections following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty did not reveal significant differences between the cohorts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we believe that the 3D modeling technique presented holds significant potential and merits application to a larger cohort of tibial bone resections for a more comprehensive investigation into the optimal tibial resection plane. Moreover, this methodology could be instrumental in the development of patient-specific implants.