Increased survival rate for primary TKA with tibial short extension stems for severe varus deformities at a minimum of 2 years follow-up

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical results, radiographic loosening and early complications between patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty (TKA) with tibial short stem extension and those with standard stem for gross varus deformities at minimum two years after surgery. From a prospective TKA database of 4216 patients, patients with a primary TKA with a tibial short stem extension (30 mm) for severe varus deformity (hip-kneeankle angle, HKA   10°, undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty, prophylactic use of a tibial short extension stem may lead to less loosening of the tibial component. In this study, 3% of patient with big varus deformity without stemmed TKA had a tibial implant loosening versus 0% in the stemmed TKA group. Level III, case–control study