The aims of the current study were to examine polyethylene particles in synovial fluid at an early stage, and to compare a newly introduced medial pivot total knee prosthesis with an established posterior-stabilized total knee prosthesis. Synovial fluid was obtained 1 year after knee arthroplasty from 17 patients with well-functioning prostheses (22 knees, 11 posterior-stabilized prostheses and 11 medial pivot prostheses) under complete sterile conditions. Polyethylene particles were isolated and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Particle size (equivalent circle diameter) was 0.78 +/- 0.08 microm (mean +/- standard error) in posterior-stabilized prostheses and 0.67 +/- 0.06 microm in medial pivot prostheses. Particle shape (aspect ratio) was 2.30 +/- 0.22 in posterior-stabilized prostheses and 1.90 +/- 0.16 in medial pivot prostheses. The total numbers of particles were 1.16 +/- 0.57 x 10(8) in posterior-stabilized prostheses and 9.01 +/- 2.95 x 10(6) in medial pivot prostheses. Particles were smaller and rounder in medial pivot prostheses than in posterior-stabilized prostheses, but the differences were not significant. The difference in the common logarithm of particle number was significant. The medial pivot prosthesis generated less wear particles than the posteriorstabilized prosthesis, and these findings may have an impact on the incidence of osteolysis and aseptic loosening.

Intraoperative findings suggest that the thoracic disc herniation in the current case was the probable cause of the ventral dural defect. Surgical reconstruction using double fascial graft under careful spinal cord monitoring resulted in a satisfactory neurologic recovery.

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Isometric quadriceps exercise resulted in significant changes in joint fluid biochemical parameters, and these changes, at least in part, may explain the ameliorative effect of muscle exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee.

The size, shape, and number of polyethylene wear particles found in synovial fluids of patients 1 year after implantation of 22 well-functioning total knee prostheses (11 contemporary mobile-bearing type, 11 posterior-stabilized type) were determined. Polyethylene wear particles were isolated from synovial fluids and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Particle size (equivalent circle diameter) was 0.81 +/- 0.12 microm (mean +/- standard error) in mobile-bearing types and 0.78 +/- 0.08 microm in posterior-stabilized types. Particle shape (aspect ratio) was 1.94 +/- 0.13 in mobile-bearing types and 2.30 +/- 0.22 in posterior-stabilized types. Total numbers of particles were (1.75 +/- 1.02) x 10(8) in mobile-bearing and (1.16 +/- 0.57) x 10(8) in posterior-stabilized types. The differences in these parameters between the two groups were not statistically significant. In the early stages after surgery, contemporary mobile-bearing types were comparable to posterior-stabilized types in terms of polyethylene wear-particle generation. The present results do not support the proposition that has been put forward in the literature; namely, that the contemporary mobile-bearing design has an advantage, in terms of the polyethylene wear rate. These data suggest that the advantage of complete conformity in the femoro-tibial articulating surface of contemporary mobile-bearing design may be offset by wear of the mobile undersurface and slot, apart from the articulating surface.