Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty using a Novel 3D Printed Titanium Augment: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Study

During revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), proximal tibial bone loss is frequently encountered and can result in a less-stable bone-implant fixation. A 3D printed titanium augment that conforms to the irregular shape of the proximal tibia was recently developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fixation stability of rTKA with this augment in comparison to conventional cemented rTKA. Fixation stability testing was conducted on eleven pairs of thawed fresh-frozen cadaveric tibias (22 tibias) after primary and revision TKA. During the loading protocol, the bone-implant micromotion was measured using a high-resolution optical system. There was significantly less micromotion in the experimental rTKA in comparison to the standard fully cemented rTKA (p= 0.04). The novel 3D printed titanium augment offers better fixation in rTKA that would be sufficient for bony ingrowth of the augment in vivo