Mechanical Strength of the Tibial Resection Surface in total Knee Replacement

Abstract

A simple laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of extended proximal tibial resection on the compressive strength of the resection surface. After removal of the tibial joint surface proximal and distal 1 cm slices were cut from the tibial epiphysis and fitted with an Insall/Burstein type of polyethylene tibial component. Proximal and distal resection surfaces were shown to have equal areas. When compressive load was applied through a matching femoral component the distal resection surface was 29 per cent (median) weaker than the proximal one.