Early radiographic and functional outcomes of a cancellous titanium-coated tibial component for total knee arthroplasty

The ADVANCE^® Medial-Pivot System (MicroPort Orthopedics Inc., Arlington, TN, USA) was first introduced in 1998 by Wright Medical Technology, Inc. The cemented version of this total knee arthroplasty (TKA) system has been shown to have a long, satisfactory clinical history [1‐6]. The system was later expanded to include titanium porous bead-coated components for cementless or hybrid fixation, and eventually a tibial component featuring a cancellous titanium coating commercially called BIOFOAM^® (Fig. 1).

BIOFOAM is a porous reticulated titanium material developed for load-bearing orthopedic applications and features a compressive modulus similar to that of native bone [7]. This is significant as differences in mechanical properties between native bone and implants can lead to stress shielding resulting in radiolucencies and decreased bone mineral density. A recent study found evidence of this occurring in TKAs performed using both cemented and titanium porous bead cementless fixation [8]. BIOFOAM also has other material properties (e.g., increased porosity and coefficient of friction) that make it attractive for the use in cementless TKA, but clinical outcomes have not yet been reported for this application. The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the short-term radiographic and functional outcomes for subjects implanted with BIOFOAM-coated tibial components used for cementless TKA.

One hundred and four (104) TKAs were performed in 85 subjects using the BIOFOAM-coated tibial components. Implantations were performed at four surgical centers by four surgeons. Institutional review board approval was obtained at each site prior to the enrollment of any subjects. Subjects were included if they required a TKA, were considered skeletally mature, and were considered to have a life expectancy to exceed 2 years. Subjects were excluded if they had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 45, an active infection, or were pregnant. All tibial components were implanted with cementless fixation, and femoral component fixation was at the discretion of the implanting surgeon. The patella was resurfaced in 26.0 % of TKAs, all using cemented patellar components. TKAs were performed using the subvastus (70.2 %), medial parapatellar (28.8 %), or midvastus (0.9 %) surgical techniques. The mean tourniquet time was 42.9 min (range 23.0–125.0 min). Demographics for included subjects are listed in Table 1.

Subjects were evaluated preoperatively, and at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Knee Society Scores (total and function) and maximum flexion were used to assess functional outcomes [9]. Anterior–posterior (AP), lateral, and sunrise radiographs were also collected at each postoperative interval. Radiographs were reviewed for the number and size of radiolucencies in the 17 zones shown in Fig. 2 and for the evaluation of patella tracking.

At each follow-up interval, Knee Society Scores (total and function) were significantly improved from baseline (Table 2). Flexion was significantly improved at 12 and 24 months. Representative radiographs of a well-fixed BIOFOAM tibial component are shown in Fig. 3. One subject experienced a 1-mm radiolucency in Zone 14 at 24 months. No other subjects presented with tibial zone radiolucencies. None of the tibial radiolucencies were progressive, and there were no signs of loosening or subsidence in either group. Six (6) subjects had radiolucencies in femoral zones at 24 months: 4 subjects with a radiolucency in Zone 1 (average size of 1.25 mm); 1 subject with a 1-mm radiolucency in Zone 5; and 1 subject with 1-mm radiolucencies in Zones 6 and 7, respectively. Radiographic analysis of the patella showed 94.0 % (100 % of resurfaced patellae and 91.7 % of non-resurfaced patellae) were tracking normally at 24 months. Of the five patellae not tracking normally, three were tilted and two were subluxed.

There were two revisions in the cohort. One TKA was revised at 2 months due to instability following a ruptured lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Another was revised at 16 months for recurrent dislocation of the tibial insert. This subject also experienced several complications prior to revision including: pain at 5.7 months, displacement and revision of the tibial insert at 5.8 months, and a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal at 7 months. Other complications for the cohort included: one hematoma, one case of unexplained pain, one foot drop, and one decreased range of motion treated with manipulation under anesthesia. There were no intraoperative complications.

Aseptic loosening remains one of the most common indications for revision TKA, accounting for over 30 % of these procedures performed in the UK during 2012 [2]. TKA with cemented fixation continues to be popular because it can reduce the risk of early loosening, but it does have some potential drawbacks compared to cementless fixation including increased operating/tourniquet time [10] and increased risk of thromboembolism [11]. Because aseptic loosening persists as a failure mode and to gain the benefits of cementless fixation, various surface finishes and component designs have been developed over the past several decades. One such technology is the BIOFOAM-coated tibial component.

BIOFOAM has a porosity of up to 70 %, which is significantly higher than that measured in titanium porous bead coatings [12]. A previous animal study compared bone ingrowth present in cylinders coated with either BIOFOAM- or titanium-sintered beads implanted in the diaphyses of nine dogs [7]. At 12-week follow-up, histological analysis showed there was more bone present in the BIOFOAM-coated specimens than there was space available for bone ingrowth in the porous bead specimens. BIOFOAM has a coefficient of friction that is over twice that of titanium porous bead coatings and nearly double that of titanium plasma spray coatings, which suggests that BIOFOAM is capable of providing increased resistance to motion prior to bone ingrowth when compared to other surface coatings [12]. While these characteristics make the material ideal for enhancing both short- and long-term implant fixation, clinical outcomes for these components have not been previously reported. In the current study, there were no complications or revisions related to migration or aseptic loosening, potentially supporting these described theoretical advantages.

BIOFOAM also has a compressive modulus similar to that of native bone, which may lead to more natural load transfers and reductions in stress shielding as previously described [7]. In the current study, only a single subject (1.2 %) presented with a radiolucency surrounding a BIOFOAM tibial component. Mean postoperative Knee Society Scores were excellent at final follow-up and similar to values previously reported in the literature for TKA. Revisions and complications were rare, and there were no failures attributable to the use of the BIOFOAM material or that have not been reported for other implant designs and coatings.

In conclusion, this preliminary study shows promising evidence for the use of BIOFOAM-coated tibial components in cementless TKA. Only a single subject experienced a radiolucency surrounding a tibial component, and functional outcomes were excellent. Further investigations are needed to confirm whether these positive early results continue in the long-term and whether outcomes for these components differ from other fixation methods.