Densitometric evaluation might prevent failure of knee artroplasty for aseptic loosening. An 8-year observational controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the correlation between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) expressed as stiffness index (SI) and the risk of aseptic loosening of knee arthroplasty. 

METHODS: An observational retrospective controlled study was performed on 85 female patients (mean age: 73.3 years) divided into 2 groups from January 2007 to March 2015 and carried out at the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Unit, Casa di Cura Eremo, Arco, Trento, Italy. Group A included 42 patients who had undergone a revision of knee prosthesis for aseptic-loosening, and group B included 43 age-matched patients who underwent primary replacement of the knee without following aseptic loosening. Patients in both groups were evaluated for SI with Achilles - QUS system at the same side of the surgery.

RESULTS: In group A, 20/42 patients (47.6%) had an SI T-score below -2.5. In group B, 14/43 (32.5%) patients had a SI T-score below -2.5. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (p=0.015). 

CONCLUSION: Stiffness index appears to be an important predictor of aseptic loosening of the knee prosthesis. Therefore, densitometric evaluation, including SI, may be recommended before surgical knee replacement.