Kinematic analysis of total knee prosthesis designed for Asian population

In designing a total knee replacement (TKR) prosthesis catering for the Asi an population, 62 sets of femur were harvested and analyzed The morphometri cal data obtained were found to be in goad agreement with dimensions typica l of the Asian knee and has reaffirmed the fact that Caucasian knees are ge nerally larger than Asian knees. Subsequently, these data when treated usin g a multivariate statistical technique resulted in the establishment of maj or design parameters for six different sizes of femoral implants. An extra- small implant size with established dimensions and geometrical shape has su rfaced from the study. The differences between the Asian knees and the Cauc asian knees are discussed. Employing the established femoral dimensions and motion path of the knee joint, the articulating tibia profile was generate d. All the sizes of implants were modeled using a computer-aided software p ackage. Thereupon, these models that accurately fits the local Asian knee w ere transported into a dynamic and kinematic analysis software package. The tibiofemoral joint was modeled successfully as a slide curve joint to stud y intuitively the motion of the femur when articulating on the tibia surfac e. An optimal tibia profile could be synthesized to mimic the natural knee path motion. Details of the analysis are presented and discussed.