Alternative bearings in total knee arthroplasty.

Overview

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is durable and reliable to relieve pain and improve function in patients with end stage arthritis of the knee joint. However, the demographics of patients undergoing TKA is changing; younger and more active patients are electing to undergo knee replacement surgery. In recent years, improvements in design, polyethelyne, and materials promise to reduce wear and improve the durability of TKA further. In this article we review these improvements, including cross-linked polyethelyne, mobile bearings, and alternative bearing surfaces used in TKA.