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Periprosthetic bone mineral density of the distal femur after total knee arthroplasty

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Summary

Evaluation of the bone mineral density (BMD) was performed in the distal femur around the femoral component of a total knee prosthesis. A total of 48 females were enrolled for this study, including 14 with osteoarthritis of one knee undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with an Osteonics prosthesis, 14 with osteoarthritis of one knee undergoing TKA with a Whiteside prosthesis, and 20 age-matched normal controls. The BMDs of both knees were measured before operation, and then at 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. The preliminary results demonstrate a significant progressive decrease of BMD in the distal femur of the operated knees after TKA, whereas the BMD of the non-operated knees remains stable. The ratio of BMD between the operated femur and the non-operated femur began to decrease 6 months after operation, and was most obvious at the end of the first year (ranging from 7% to 27%). Further investigation is essential to determine the clinical significance of this loss of periprosthetic bone.

Résumé

L'étude de la densité minérale osseuse (DMO) du fémur distal porteur d'une prothèse totale a été réalisée. Quarante-huit femmes ont fait l'objet de cette étude. 14 d'entre-elles présentaient une gonarthrose unilatérale et ont eu une arthroplastie totale avec une prothèse Osteonics; 14 autres, toujours avec une gonarthrose unilatérale ont eu une arthroplastie totale avec une prothèse Whiteside; enfin, 20 patientes, de même tranche d'âges sans arthrose du genou ont servi de groupe témoin. La densité minérale des deux genoux fut mesurée avant l'opération, puis à 3, 6 et 12 mois après intervention. Les résultats préliminaires montrent une diminution progressive et significative de la densité minérale dans le fémur distal des genoux opérés par arthroplastie totale. La densité des genoux non opérés reste stable. Le rapport des densités entre fémur opéré et fémur non opéré commence à décroitre 6 mois après l'opération et est le plus marqué à la fin de la première année (de 7 à 27%). D'autres investigations sont nécessaires pour évaluer la signification clinique de la diminution de densité de l'os périprothétique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    T. -K. Liu, R. -S. Yang & B. -W. Shee

  2. Department of Radiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    P. -U. Chieng

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  1. T. -K. Liu
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  2. R. -S. Yang
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  3. P. -U. Chieng
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  4. B. -W. Shee
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Liu, T.K., Yang, R.S., Chieng, P.U. et al. Periprosthetic bone mineral density of the distal femur after total knee arthroplasty. International Orthopaedics 19, 346–351 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178346

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178346

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