Is high flexion following total knee arthroplasty safe? Evaluation of knee joint loads in the patients during maximal flexion

The purpose of this study was to indicate the mechanical loads and the flexion angle at the knee during rise from maximal flexion following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Twenty three knees were evaluated using skin marker-based motion analysis system during four different activities of daily living. The average maximum flexion was 90 degrees (34 degrees less than passive flexion) and all subjects required support for their weight to rise from maximal flexion. The external moments and the external forces at the knee during the maximal flexion were smaller than those during the stair descending activity. The results indicate that capable flexion angle for the patients following TKA is approximately 90 degrees which has smaller mechanical loads at the knee than the stair descending activity.