Is There a Benefit to Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene in Posterior-stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Randomized Trial

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

192 patients (236 knees) undergoing primary posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were included in the interim analysis of this randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomized to undergo TKA with either a standard or highly cross-linked polyethylene tibial liner. This trial was conducted in order to determine if highly cross-linked polyethylene tibial liners provided clinical and radiographic advantages over standard liners in posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty. Comparable results were reported at the 2year follow-up for all assessments, including the Knee Society total knee and function scores, Lower Extremity Activity Scores, and rates of joint effusion, radiolucent lines, reoperation, and osteolysis. The results of longer-term assessments at 10-year follow-up are required before drawing conclusions regarding the comparative efficacy of these liners.