PURPOSE OF STUDY: Total joint replacements (TJR) have become the cornerstone of modern orthopedic surgery. A great majority of TJR employs ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) liners. TJR manufacturers use many different types of UHMWPE, which are modified by various combinations of crosslinking, thermal treatment, sterilization and/or addition of biocompatible stabilizers. The UHMWPE modifications are expected to improve the polymer's resistance to oxidative degradation and wear (release of microparticles from the polymer surface). This manuscript provides an objective, non-commercial comparison of current UHMWPE formulations currently employed in total knee replacements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: UHMWPE liners from 21 total knee replacements (TKR) were collected which represent the most implanted liners in the Czech Republic in the period 2020-2021. The UHMWPEs were characterized using several methods: infrared microspectroscopy (IR), non-instrumented and instrumented microindentation hardness testing (MH and MHI), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and solubility measurements. The above-listed methods yielded quite complete information about the structure and properties of each UHMWPE type, including its potential long-term oxidation resistance. RESULTS: For each UHMWPE liner, IR yielded information about immediate oxidative degradation (in the form of oxidation index, OI), level of crosslinking (trans-vinylene index, VI) and crystallinity (CI). The MH and MHI testing gave information about the impact of structure changes on mechanical properties. The remaining methods (DSC, TGA, and solubility measurements) provided additional information regarding the structure changes and resistance to long-term oxidative degradation. Statistical evaluation showed significant differences among the samples as well as interesting correlations among the UHMWPE modifications, structural changes, and mechanical performance. DISCUSSION: Surprisingly enough, UHMWPE materials from different manufacturers showed quite different properties, including the resistance against the long-term oxidative degradation, which is regarded as one of the main reasons of TJR failures. The most promising UHMWPE types were crosslinked materials with biocompatible stabilizers. CONCLUSIONS: Current UHMWPE liners from different manufactures used in total knee replacements exhibit significantly different structure and properties. From the point of view of clinical practice, the traditional UHMWPE types, which contained residual radicals from irradiation and/or gamma sterilization, showed inferior resistance to oxidative degradation and should be avoided. The best properties were observed in modern UHMWPE types, which combined crosslinking, biocompatible stabilizers, and sterilization by ethylenoxide or gas plasma. KEY WORDS: UHMWPE; knee replacements; oxidative degradation; infrared spectroscopy; microhardness.

• MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály chemie   MeSH
• diferenciální skenovací kalorimetrie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polyethyleny * chemie   MeSH
• protézy - design MeSH
• protézy kolene * MeSH
• termogravimetrie MeSH
• testování materiálů * metody   MeSH
• totální endoprotéza kolene * přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of the study was to evaluate tibio-femoral rotation during a simulated squat and to investigate the relationship between the rotational position of the femur in full extension and the amount of external rotation of the femur on the tibia during flexion. MATERIAL AND METHODS Part 1: MRIs of volunteers Data on healthy knees of 10 volunteers were obtained using 2D MRI measurements. The foot and the ankle were fixed to prevent rotation and adduction/abduction movements. Sagittal MRIs of the knees have been performed in 4 positions of flexion. The amount of longitudinal rotation in each position of flexion was calculated. Part 2: Mathematical model experiment a) The model of the femur has been positioned in the 3D coordinate system in full extension and at 12.8° of internal rotation and then flexed to 90° without longitudinal rotation. The distance between the centre of the femoral head and the sagittal plane passing through the centre of the knee was then measured. b) Subsequently, the femur was flexed and rotation allowed to retain femoral head within the sagittal plane. The amount of femoral rotation was then calculated. RESULTS Part 1: In full extension the femur was on average in 12.8° of IR relative to the tibia. By 90° flexion femur rotated on average 12.2° externally. Part 2: a)From full extension to 90° flexion the femoral head moved 93.1 mm laterally from the sagittal plane. b)Between full extension and 90° flexion the femur rotated 12.8° externally, a degree which corresponds to the amount of initial internal rotation of the femur in full extension. DISCUSSION The most important finding of the presented in vivo study lies in the fact that in normal knees with tibia rotationally fixed flexion is always coupled with femoral external rotation in order to keep the femoral head in the acetabulum. This rotation is obligatory. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that if the tibia is rotationally fixed, the knee flexion is possible only when accompanied by femoral external rotation to keep the femoral head in the acetabulum. A mathematical description of the experiment has been proposed, the results of which confirm the stated premise. This finding can be explained by initial internal rotation of the femur in full extension of the knee and is allowed by the shape of articulating bones and tension of soft tissues Key words: knee, terminal extension, knee rotation, knee movement, MRI, hip joint.

• MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• femur diagnostické zobrazování   fyziologie   MeSH
• kolenní kloub diagnostické zobrazování   fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
• rotace MeSH
• rozsah kloubních pohybů MeSH
• tibie diagnostické zobrazování   fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of this paper was to compare terminal extension in normal and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knees, and therefore to determine the role of the ACL during this motion. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ten knees with ACL tears (7 knees with recent ACL tears, 3 knees with long-standing tears) and 10 normal contralateral knees have been examined using MRI in passive hyperextension, 20° flexion and 20° flexion with a 9 kg posteriorly directed load on the femur. Movements of the femoral condyles on the tibia were calculated using previously described methods. RESULTS 1. Under the load at 20° flexion, knees with ACL tear showed posterior femoral subluxation (equivalent to a Lachman test), chronic tears being more unstable. Contralateral normal knees were antero-posteriorly stable. In hyperextension, both femoral condyles subluxed posteriorly in ACL tears but not in normal knees. 2. In all knees with ACL tear, the lateral femoral condyle moved posteriorly from hyperextension to 20°, equating to femoral external rotation. 3. The longitudinal rotation axis during terminal extension in normal knees was medial but in ACL tears it was central causing the medial femoral condyle to move forward from hyperextension to 20°. In normal knees, the medial femoral condyle did not move antero-posteriorly from hyperextension to 20° flexion. DISCUSSION Internal rotation of the femur during terminal extension has been recognized for 150 years. The question remains: what causes the usual combination of longitudinal rotation and extension? In the current literature ACL is considered to be responsible for internal rotation of the femur during terminal extension of the knee. So far, as we are aware, the kinematics of terminal extension, including hyperextension, have not been reported after ACL tear in the living knee. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study imply that: 1. The ACL prevents anterior tibial subluxation in hyperextension. 2. The ACL does not cause rotation in terminal extension. 3. The ACL locates the axis of longitudinal rotation in terminal extension. We hope that by studying living knees with and without ACL tear we may not only clarify the nature and mechanism of rotation in terminal extension, and hence the role of the ACL, but do so in a context of direct clinical relevance. Key words: knee, terminal extension, ACL tear, axis of longitudinal rotation, antero-posterior instability, MRI.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kolenní kloub * diagnostické zobrazování   patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligamentum cruciatum anterius patofyziologie   MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• nestabilita kloubu * diagnóza   patofyziologie   MeSH
• poranění předního zkříženého vazu * diagnóza   patofyziologie   MeSH
• rotace MeSH
• rozsah kloubních pohybů MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of the study is a retrospective comparison of results of the two-stage revision total hip arthroplasty using a non-articulating and an articulating spacer to treat periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Two basic hypotheses are evaluated: (1) the clinical outcomes of the patients treated with "hand made" articulating cement spacer are better than in non-articulating patient's group in two-stage revision for PJI of the total hip arthroplasty and (2) PJI recurrence is higher in the group of patients treated with an articulating spacer group. MATERIAL AND METHODS The evaluated group consists of a total of 57 patients (23 women, 34 men) with the mean age of 61.2 years. Group A of 39 patients were treated by two-stage revision using the "hand-made" articulating cement spacer and Group B of 18 patients were treated using the non-articulating spacer. Both the groups were evaluated retrospectively in the reference period: preoperatively and two years after the surgery using the Harris Hip Score (HHS) clinical assessment. The revision surgery for acute and chronic complications of treatment, length of hospitalization, and the PJI recurrence were evaluated for both the groups. RESULTS The resulting HHS clinical reviews were pre-operatively 43.59 points in both the groups with postoperative improvement up to 81.74 points. The mean preoperative HHS scores were 41.67 points (Group A) and 47.77 points (Group B) and two years after the surgery they were 83.43 points (Group A) and 78.08 points (Group B) (two-tailed t-test, p-value = 0.042). In Group A a total of seven revisions were performed in the interval between the two-stage revision (4x recurrent dislocation, 2x persistent infection, 1x spacer fracture). In Group B one patient was revised for persistent infection. In the two-year period after the operation, a relapse of PJI was recorded in 5 patients in Group A (12.8%) and in 1 patient in Group B (5.6%) (Chi-square test, p-value = 0.41). The average time of hospitalization was 51.58 days, whereby 49.72 days and 55.61 days on average for Group A and B respectively (p-value = 0.53). DISCUSSION According to recent studies, the advantage of motion preservation in articulating cement spacers can be complicated by recurrent dislocations, implant migration, periprosthetic fractures or recurrent joint replacement infections, which can further prolong the treatment and worsen the final clinical results. An alternative treatment option is the application of a nonarticulating spacer maintaining the advantage of local administration of antibiotics and reducing the dead space formed by the infected implant removal. Discussed is mainly the choice of the method in case of muscle disorder or presence of segmental bone defects. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the better clinical outcomes and the higher revision rate of patients with an articulating cement spacer in two stage revision. We didn't find any differences between the risk of PJI recurrence in both groups. Key words:periprosthetic infection, total hip replacement, cement spacer, two stage revision, articulating spacer, nonarticulating spacer.

• MeSH
• infekce spojené s protézou * diagnóza   etiologie   MeSH
• kyčelní protézy * škodlivé účinky   klasifikace   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náhrada kyčelního kloubu * škodlivé účinky   metody   MeSH
• posouzení stavu pacienta MeSH
• recidiva MeSH
• reoperace * metody   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH