[Different knee prostheses and their technical problems].

Abstract

Depending on whether degenerative lesions are localized to one single compartment or extend to all three compartments of the knee, and depending on the state of the ligaments (notably the cruciate ligaments) and on the presence or absence of osseous and frontal deformations, various prostheses can be used in the treatment of gonarthrosis. These prostheses fall into three main categories: (i) hinge prostheses, which are very constrained; (ii) sliding prostheses with varying degrees of constraint depending on whether or not the cruciate ligament(s) are spared, and (iii) one-compartment prostheses which replace only one of the three compartments of the knee. Each type of prosthesis has its advantages and drawbacks. Total knee replacement has become a reliable procedure which regularly provides stable and painless knees with a mean flexion angle of 110 degrees and is mainly applied, for the time being, to subjects leading a sedentary life.