Repair materials for bone defects of the tibial plateau in primary total knee arthroplasty

At present, the number of primary TKA (total knee arthroplasties, TKA) performed has increased annually, and there are a considerable number of patients having bone defects of the tibial plateau. How to choose appropriate repair materials for repairing the tibial plateau bone defects and obtain satisfactory results from primary TKA has gradually become a research focus. Effective repair outcome is the basis of the initial stability of the knee prosthesis, which ensures that patients can obtain satisfactory results within the life expectancy of the prosthesis. Recently, a variety of materials have been used to repair tibial plateau bone defects in primary TKA. In this review, we summarized the advantages and disadvantages of different materials used in repairing tibial plateau bone defects, and hope to provide a certain reference for selection of appropriate materials during treatment. Repair materials applied to repair bone defects of the tibia plateau include traditional materials (structural bone grafts, bone cement, modular metal augments, and tantalum cones), and new materials (autologous chondrocytes, autologous platelet-rich plasma, and tissue-engineered bone). Those materials have shown diverse characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Traditional repair materials may lead to complications, such as bone resorption, secondary collapse, stress shielding and loosening, while new materials provide new opportunities to treat the diseases during the early stages. However, the clinical safety and long-term efficacy of the above mentioned new materials need to be further verified. Appropriate repair materials should be selected according to the specific size and depth of the tibial plateau bone defects.