Finite element analysis of effect of tibial plateau prosthesis posterior tilt angle on life of unicompartmental knee replacement prosthesis during anterior cruciate ligament rupture

doi:10.12307/2026.682

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Clinical application of unicompartmental knee replacement is limited by the abnormal knee joint dynamics caused by anterior cruciate ligament rupture. The posterior tilt angle of the tibial plateau prosthesis is a key parameter for regulating the stress distribution of the tibiofemoral joint. The relationship between the two and the long-term wear of the prosthesis is not clear.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of different tibial plateau tilt angles on prosthesis life in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with anterior cruciate ligament rupture using finite element analysis, aiming to identify an optimal tibial plateau tilt angle.
METHODS: Thin-slice CT scan data of the knee joint of a healthy volunteer were used to construct knee models with intact and ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments. Prosthesis models were assembled according to standard unicompartmental knee arthroplasty surgical procedures at varying tibial plateau tilt angles of 3°, 5°, 7°, 9°, and 11°. Finite element analysis of the models revealed the maximum principal stress, force contours, and maximum principal stress change rates of each prosthesis component.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) When the tibial plateau prosthesis was tilted 3°, 5°, 7°, 9°, and 11°, the maximum principal stress of the femoral condyle prosthesis, tibial plateau pad prosthesis, and tibial plateau prosthesis before and after the anterior cruciate ligament rupture was close, and there was no obvious change pattern in the maximum principal stress of each prosthesis. The stress of the tibial plateau prosthesis, femoral prosthesis, and tibial plateau pad prosthesis decreased in turn. (2) When the tibial plateau prosthesis tilted 5°, the maximum stress change rate of each prosthesis was the smallest, and the maximum principal stress of the tibial plateau prosthesis was greater. (3) It is suggested that if unicompartmental knee replacement is performed without repairing the ligament, it is recommended that the intraoperative tibial plateau prosthesis tilt angle should be 3°-5°, which may compensate for the adverse effects of anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the prosthesis service life.

Key words: ligament rupture, knee, osteoarthritis, unicompartmental replacement, maximum principal stress

CLC Number:

Wang Jidong, Tao Shuaixian, Liu Shuo, Ji Shouzhang, Nie Haitao, Pu Xinwei, Luo Songjiumei, Li Zhaowei, Ren Rong. Finite element analysis of effect of tibial plateau prosthesis posterior tilt angle on life of unicompartmental knee replacement prosthesis during anterior cruciate ligament rupture[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2026, 30(15): 3780-3790.

Figures/Tables 4

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