Achieving Deep Flexion After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty patients often have difficulty performing activities involving flexion beyond 130°. The NexGen LPS Flex (Zimmer Inc, Warsaw, Ind) mobile bearing implant accommodates up to 155° of flexion. Two hundred eighteen total knee arthroplasties were performed using this implant on 125 patients over a 2-year period with a minimum of 5 years follow-up. All data were collected prospectively. Forty-four percent of preoperative cases had full flexion (ie, 140° active flexion and ability to kneel with thigh/calf contact for 1 minute). Five-year data showed an average flexion of 140° ± 11.5° and flexion greater than 140° in 103 knees (68%). There were no differences in patellofemoral pain levels, complications, or Knee Society scores despite our patients having, on average, an increase in flexion and function.