Early Aseptic Tibial Loosening in Total Knee Replacement – A Gender and Obesity Related Complication - Abstract
Obesity is growing year on year in the western world, as is the need for knee arthroplasty. High BMI is associated with early tibial failure through aseptic loosening.
A case series of 12 consecutive revisions for tibial base plate mechanical failure was identified from a knee replacement cohort of 5,736 patients. We collected data on patient demographics, operative details and outcomes.
All failures occurred in high BMI females. There was a high proportion who had risk factors for osteoporosis. All cases were revised to at least a stemmed tibia, the majority to a constrained condylar construct. The revision surgery carried a high complication risk.
Early proximal tibial failure is a rare complication of total knee replacement surgery and there is an identifiable set of risk factors. This complication is therefore potentially preventable.