Twenty-five patients who received an artificial ligament after pT resection (11 men and 14 women; mean age, 29 years; range 11 to 75 years, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months) were analyzed regarding the ISOLS failure mode classification. Twenty patients received LARS® during primary surgery, five patients during a revision of a pT modular endoprosthesis. LARS® was available as a band or a tube.
The mean extension lag was nine degrees (range, 0 to 30°), the mean flexion was 103° (range, 60 to 130°). The mean extension lag and active flexion in primary implanted LARS were 7.8° and 101° versus secondarily implanted 45° and 115° (p < 0.0001; p = 0.15). Eleven out of 14 primary implanted LARS® band/tubes (71%) did well with extension lag (0 to 10°). LARS® usage as a band or as a tube showed similar results. The estimated five-year survival of LARS® was 92%. The median survival of LARS® implanted primarily was better than in the case of secondary implantation (p = 0.006).
Extensor mechanism reconstruction by LARS® band or tube shows excellent function and satisfactory implant survival after primary reconstruction of the extensor mechanism after proximal tibia resection. We experienced no LARS® rupture for only mechanical reasons.
Level IV retrospective study.