Evaluation of Triathlon - A New Total Knee Prosthesis System - Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis Triathlon CR vs. PS
Phase: NA
Conditions: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee
Sponsor: Stryker Orthopaedics

 
 
Evaluation of Triathlon  
- a new total knee prosthesis system 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sören Toksvig-Larsen, ass Prof 
 
 
Department of Orthopaedics  
 
 
Lund University Hospital 
Dept Orthopaedics Hässleholm Hospital 
 
 
 
29 August 2007, Region Skåne, Sweden  
NCT02522728 

 
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EVALUATION OF THE TRIATHLON KNEE SYSTEM 
STUDY DESIGN SUMMARY PAGE 
• Prospective, comparative, randomised, RSA series with 2-years follow-up. 
• Primary total knee replacement surgery utilising the Triathlon Knee System 
• A total of 300 patients will be included in the study, with 25 patients in each group of 
the sub studies. 
• Clinical evaluations will be required pre-operatively, per-operatively, prior to 
discharge and at 3 months +/-2 weeks, 1 year +/- 2 months and 2 years +/- 2 months. 
• RSA (Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis) evaluation will be required prior to 
discharge and at 3 months +/-2weeks, 1 year +/- 2 months and 2 years +/- 2months. 
• Radiographic evaluation will be required to be completed pre-operatively, prior to 
discharge and at 1 year +/- 2 months and 2 years +/- 2months. 
• Patient outcomes assessments (KOOS and KSS) will be required to be completed pre-
operatively and at  3 months +/-2 weeks, 1 year +/- 2 months and 2 years +/- 2 
months 
Evaluation 
Pre-op 
Per-op 
Prior to 
Discharge 
3 Months 
1 Year 
2 Years 
Medical History 
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Operative Details 
 
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RSA 
 
 
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 Radiographs 
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Clinical 
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Outcomes 
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1. Introduction 
Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is the surgical reconstruction of the knee joint in order to 
relieve pain, restore function and correct deformity. It is a very common surgical 
procedure with figures showing more than 500.000 arthroplasties performed annually 
world wide. Total knee arthroplasty is considered one of the most successful types of 
joint reconstruction in that surgical results usually meet and even exceed expectations.  
Efforts to improve the outcome of total knee replacement continue today, with issues 
such as implant design, material biocompatibility, wear resistance and instrument design 
being actively researched and refined. The role of implant design is particularly well 
documented in the literature. The patient’s demands and the refinement of surgery have 
increased the demands, both on the implants and development of the surgical technique.  
This clinical study proposes to evaluate a new knee prosthesis system, Triathlon. 
The design for Triathlon prosthesis theoretically addresses the higher expectations and 
higher demands the patients of today have for their implants, especially with respect to 
the need for deeper knee flexion and greater ease of moving into deep flexion. This knee 
prosthesis is designed to allow for normal knee motion and stability through 150 degree 
or more of knee flexion. The design allows for correct balancing with stability and deep 
flexion, avoiding the gap and instability the prosthesis designs of today create during 
deep knee flexion. This instability is due to lack of contact between the femoral and tibia 
component.  The Triathlon design also takes the Freeman/Pinskerova findings for the 
epicondylar axis during flexion in consideration. The tibia design of Triathlon is 
addressing this with the rotary arc for the tibial insert. The rotary arc provides the design 
with a possibility for smooth and consistent articulation with rotation throughout the 
range of motion during knee flexion, even deep.  
The key features for the Triathlon design are a further improvement of the Duracon 
design with improved femoral posterior condyle flare and the rotary arc in insert. These 
features work together to provide possibility for, and help, rotation during deep knee 

 
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flexion. The Triathlon femur component has been designed for an improved anatomical 
fit. The anterior flange has been slightly steeper (7 degrees) which minimise the risk for 
anterior notching. The sizing and the femoral A/P and M/L dimensions minimize the risk 
for prosthetic overhang as the aspect ratio (M/L & A/P) both for the femur and the tibial 
component have been declined. 
The Triathlon design is also focused on implant longevity by a precision locking 
mechanism. The aim with this is to reduce the micromotion of the poly insert related to 
the tibial tray even further. By reducing the micromotions, problems related to back-side 
wear could be reduced. 
Cementless prosthetic fixations have enjoyed widespread use. It is generally agreed that 
careful site preparation (Toksvig-Larsen, 1994) and a precise fit between the implant and 
bone are required. The potential advantages of hydroxyapatite (HA) (Søballe 1993) are 
the shortening of the time needed to achieve adequate fixation strength and stability, and 
increasing the strength of the bone-Implant interface (Geesink, 1995, Søballe, 1993). Up 
to date the most used application is a plasma-sprayed coating technique using high 
temperatures (ceramics), but the technique is only feasible for rough or textured surfaces. 
This coating has been further developed to the Peri-Apatite coating technique which has 
the ability to coat all exposed surfaces of a three-dimensional porous in-growth structure. 
In the peri-apatite process the hydroxyapatite is formed at low temperature as a product 
of solution precipitation. 
During the last decade, roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) has emerged as a 
way to assess prosthetic fixation (Selvik 1974). The method has been used extensively 
both in hip and knee arthroplasty (Kärrholm, 1989, Mjöberg, 1990, Nilsson, 1992, Ryd 
1992, Nilsson, 1996, Ewald 2002). It has been shown that RSA can serve as a predictor 
of late mechanical loosening both for knee and hip prostheses (Ryd 1995, Kärrholm 
1994). 
 

 
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2. Objective 
The 
objective 
is 
to 
investigate 
the 
clinical, 
Radiographic, 
Roentgen 
Stereophotogrammetric behaviour and patient outcome when using the Triathlon total 
knee prosthesis in a prospective randomized clinical trial. 
 
3. Number of Subjects 
300 patients in six individually randomized sub-studies (25 patients in each randomized 
group) will be enrolled into the study over a 12 months recruitment period per sub-study. 
Each investigator will perform at least 5-10 knee arthroplasties with the Triathlon CR 
(learning curve) before enrolling patients in the clinical study. 
Patients will be randomly allocated to one of two equally sized groups in each sub-study. 
Please see section 5 of this protocol for study design and section 8.3 for randomisation.  
 
4. Length of Study 
A 2-year post-operative follow-up period for each patient is required.  
 
5. Study Design 
This is a prospective, comparative, randomised single centre clinical study. The Triathlon 
and the Duracon Knee Systems have to be implanted for evaluation in this study. Patients 
will be randomised to one of two equally sized groups within each sub study. Both knee 
systems are commercially available. Patellae will be resurfaced if needed. All patients 
included in the study will meet all inclusion criterias and none of the exclusion criterias. 

 
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Ethic Committee approval for the study will be obtained by the investigator prior to 
starting the inclusion of patients in the study.  
 
Patients will be considered for enrolment according to the clinical findings and subject to 
gaining their suitable written informed consent (see Appendix II). 
The principal evaluation parameter will be the RSA. Patient outcome will be assessed by 
the KOOS questionnaire and the KSS. Clinical evaluation will include the chair raise test, 
measurement of the extension strength, and a patella evaluation. The evaluation of the 
Triathlon system will be carried out in several steps, described as sub-studies all 
including RSA-technique. 
Sub-studies: 
a) Triathlon versus Duracon: The Triathlon system has a heritage in the well documented 
Duracon system, which has shown very good results in the Swedish Knee Register. The 
goal with this study is to get an indication of the long-term results of Triathlon. The 
evaluation is carried out by a prospective randomised RSA-study with Triathlon 
cemented knee prosthesis versus Duracon cemented knee prosthesis 
b) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining (CR) versus Triathlon Posterior Stabilized (PS): During 
knee prosthesis surgery the surgeon many times need to make a judgement on if to keep a 
defect anatomical structure or if to replace it with knee prosthesis with a design that 
allows for adjustment of this defect. This sub study is aimed to evaluate which prosthetic 
choice to be made in respect of stability, long-term results and patient outcome. 
c) Triathlon PA (HA-surface) versus Triathlon Pressfit design: The goal with the un-
cemented technique is to reach a full integration between the bone and the prosthesis. 
During the last years the usage of prosthesis with hydroxyapatite surface within tooth-, 
mandibular-surgery, hips- and knee-joints, have increased significantly. It has been 
shown that a thin layer of hydroxyapatite stimulates the anchorage of the implant. The 

 
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goal with this sub study is to compare the stability of the fixation when using two 
different types of Triathlon un-cemented prosthesis designs. PA (HA-surface) versus 
Pressfit. 
d) Triathlon implanted through computer assisted surgery versus conventional technique: 
Today’s surgical technique within knee-arthroplasty has improved greatly with better 
instruments and more sophisticated equipment e.g. computer assisted surgery. The goal 
with this sub study is to evaluate if there are any advantages with computer assisted 
surgery together with Triathlon. The Triathlon knee system has been developed with 
instrumentation specifically prepared for computer assisted surgery. 
e) Triathlon knee prosthesis implanted with MIS technique versus conventional 
technique: Today’s surgical technique within knee arthroplasty is evolving towards 
smaller incisions and less traumatising techniques, so called Minimal Invasive Surgery 
(MIS). The goal with this sub study is to evaluate the advantages for the patient when 
using Triathlon-MIS-technique versus conventional surgical technique. 
f) Triathlon Fixed versus Triathlon Mobile Bearing: This sub study is aimed to evaluate if 
Triathlon mobile bearing will give the patient any advantages over the Triathlon fixed 
bearing. 
g) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining knee (CR) with a tibial keel of standard length 
randomised against Triathlon Cruciate Retaining knee (CR) with a tibial part with a short 
keel, both system will be used with cemented fixation. The short tibial keel is thought to 
facilitate the surgery due to easier access and better positioning possibilities. This sub-
study is aimed at evaluating if the short tibial keel will have equal fixation and migration 
properties as the standard keel. 
 h) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining knee with cemented fixation randomised versus 
Triathlon Cruciated Retaining knee with uncemented fixation (Peri-Apatite). The aim 
with this sub study is to evaluate the uncemented PA knee fixation and migration 
properties versus the cemented version. 

 
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6. Inclusion and Exclusion criteria 
6.1 Inclusion criteria 
1. 
Patients suffering exclusively from OA, Stage II-V [Ahlbäck, 1968 #391] 
will be operated. 
2. 
Patients requiring knee prosthesis, suitable for the use of Duracon and 
Triathlon knee system 
3. 
Patients who understand the conditions of the study and are willing and 
able to comply with the post-operative scheduled clinical and 
radiographical evaluations and the prescribed rehabilitation. 
4.  
Patients who signed the Ethics Committee approved Informed Consent 
Form prior to surgery. 
 
6.2 Exclusion criteria  
1. 
Previous major knee surgery 
2. 
Other significant disabling problems from the muscular-skeletal system 
than in the knees 
3. 
Obese patients where obesity is severe enough to affect subject’s 
ability to perform activities of daily living (body mass index, kg/m2: 
BMI  35). 
4. 
Patients with active or suspected infection. 
5. 
Patients with malignancy – active malignancy. 

 
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6. 
Patients 
with 
severe 
osteoporosis, 
Paget’s 
disease, 
renal 
osteodystrophy. 
7. 
Patients immunologically suppressed, or receiving steroids in excess 
of physiologic dose requirements. 
8. 
The patient has a neuromuscular or neurosensory deficit which 
would limit the ability to assess the performance of the device or 
the patient has a neurological deficit which interferes with the 
patient’s ability to limit weight bearing or places an extreme load 
on the implant during the healing period. 
9. 
Female patients planning a pregnancy during the course of the 
study. 
10. 
Patients with systemic or metabolic disorders leading to progressive 
bone deterioration. 
11. 
Patients, who as judged by the surgeon, are mentally incompetent 
or are unlikely to be compliant with the prescribed post-operative 
routine and follow-up evaluation schedule. 
12. 
Patients with other severe concurrent joint involvements, which can 
affect their outcome. 
13. 
Patients with other concurrent illnesses, which are likely to affect 
their outcome such as sickle cell anaemia, systemic lupus 
erythematosus or renal disease requiring dialysis. 
14. 
Patients under the protection of law (e.g. guardianship). 
 

 
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7. Prostheses 
All components of the knee systems used in this study are CE marked and have been 
approved for sale and use throughout Europe. All prosthesis have chrome-cobalt femoral 
components and tibial trays. The polyethylene is relatively unconstrained. Both Triathlon 
and Duracon tibial trays have delta-shaped stems. When required a cemented 
polyethylene patellar component will be used. 
Sub-studies 
a) The prostheses inserted will be the Duracon total knee and the Triathlon total knee. 
Both prosthesis will be Cruciate Retaining design. 
b) The second part of the study will include the Triathlon total knee in Cruciate Retaining 
(CR) and Posterior Stabilized (PS) version. 
c) Triathlon PA (hydroxyapatite on a porous surface) and Triathlon Press-fit (porous 
coated), both in Cruciate Retaining design. The in-growth surface for both the femoral 
and the tibial component is a porous coated chrome-cobalt sintered bead surface for 
uncemented use. The porous coating is thicker than a single beads layer. The group 
studied with peri-apatite coating is an additional solution precipitated calcium phospated 
coating, 10-20 µm thick, which coat in between the sintered beads. This coating has been 
proved to improve the gap healing. This gap has been shown to be quite large in primary 
reconstructions [Toksvig-Larsen, 1994 #1131]. 
d) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining design. 
e) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining design. 
f) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining and Triathlon Mobile Bearing, Cruciate Retaining design. 
g) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining cemented version with short keel and Triathlon Cruciate 
Retaining cemented version with statndard keel 

 
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h) Triathlon Cruciate Retaining cemented version and Triathlon Cruciate Retaining with 
PeriApatite (uncemented version) 
 
8. Methods  
8.1 Study design 
The study is a prospective, randomised single centre trial with 25 patients in each group. 
The patients will be randomly allocated to one of two equally sized groups in each sub-
study regarding different treatments and prosthesis designs. 
 
8.2 Operative procedure 
All patients will be operated at the Department of Orthopaedics in Hässleholm. The 
surgeries will be performed using the appropriate guide instruments and according to the 
surgical-technique manual supplied with the knee system. All femoral and tibial 
prosthetic components will be inserted according the protocol. 
 
8.3 Randomisation procedure 
The randomisation of the patients will take place when the surgeon decides that the 
patient can be included. The randomisation will be performed by opening a sealed 
envelope with 25 patients allocated to each group. 
 
8.4 Post-operative mobilisation 

 
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Mobilisation will take place according to the ordinary clinical routines at the department 
of Orthopaedics in Hässleholm. Full weight-bearing is allowed postoperatively. The 
postoperative care and the mobilisation will be similar for all sub-groups. 
 
8.5 Follow-up 
The study period will be two years. Follow-ups will be performed at postoperatively, at 
12 weeks and at 1- and 2 years. All assessment variables will be compiled preoperatively 
and at each follow-up. The patients will be followed indefinitely at 3 years intervals after 
completion of this protocol. 
 
9. Assessment 
Primary assessment variables will be 
1. Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) (Selvik, 1974). 
 
Secondary assessment variables will be 
2. Plain radiographs will be obtained for disease classification. 
3. Clinical assessment according to the Knee Society Score (KSS) and KOOS score  
4. At the post-op follow-up all plain radiographs will be obtained for the assessment of 
the component position. At the yearly radiographic follow up a weight-bearing 
investigation will be performed to assess wear, radiolucent zones and stress resorption. A 
patella sky view projection will be included in the postoperative x-ray and at the yearly 
controls 

 
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10. RSA 
All cases will be prepared for RSA investigation by insertion of tantalum markers in the 
tibial polyethylene component and in the tibial metaphysis (Ryd, 1986). 
11. Data analysis 
 
11.1 Power - statistical considerations 
From previous studies the migration during the first two years for cemented prostheses 
has been about 1.0 ± 0.5 mm (MTPM). Suppose this migration will decrease by 50% to 
0.5 ± 0,5 mm. Considering an alpha level of 0.05 and a beta level of 0,20 (power ≈ 80%) 
this will require 17 cases in each group. With a ß of 0,75, 15 patients in each group will 
be needed. Continuous migration between the 1st and 2nd year follow-up has been found 
in up to 50% of the cases. Suppose that an improvement will have to yield a decrease in 
continuous migration to 10% in order to be clinic relevant.  An alpha level of 0,05 and 
beta level of 0,20 (power = 80 %) would require 25 cases in each group. 
 
11.2 Statistical analysis 
All variable are considered continuous and measured on an interval scale, except 
migratory pattern, which is proportional. The difference between the two treatment 
groups will be evaluated with analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables at 
different time periods. Clinical scores will also be analysed using the analysis of 
covariance (ANCOVA) to compensate for different preoperative starting values. 
Continuous data which are not normally distributed will be analysed by non-parametric 
ranking tests and proportional values will be analysed by the chi-square test or the 
Fischer’s exact test at low response frequencies. 

 
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11.3 Data management 
The scientific collaborator will be responsible for the compilation and statistical 
treatment of data. Raw data and results will be kept available to the company at all times. 
12. Publication of Results 
Once the study has continued long enough to generate results of a good enough quality 
for publication, a review will be arranged at which results will be considered and an 
agreement for publication reached between the participating investigator and Stryker.  
It is anticipated that the results of this study will be published in an international journal. 
In this context the results of the study are owned solely by the clinical investigator and 
the scientific collaborators, which decide on the final form of the report. The result of the 
study will be submitted to an international journal of orthopaedics within six months 
from the completion of the study. Before submission, Stryker will be informed regarding 
the manuscript. The results are not to be used for marketing or other purposes before the 
results have been accepted for publication of for presentation in an open scientific 
meeting. 
 
12. Ethical considerations 
12.1 Declaration of Helsinki 
This study will follow the guidelines as laid down by the “Declaration of Helsinki” 
(Declaration of Helsinki, October 2000) (see Appendix I). 
In accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki the Investigators must gain written Ethics 
Committee approval prior to enrolling patients in the study. Ethics Committee approval 

 
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must be gained either from the Ethics Committee that is local to the investigational site or 
from an adequately constituted [according to ICH GCP] independent Ethics Committee. 
 
 
 
12.2 Informed Consent 
The patient information sheet and informed consent documentation will be drawn up 
according to ICH GCP requirements. A patient information sheet will be given to each 
patient, in local language and written to an appropriate level of detail (see Appendix II). 

 
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12.3 Ethical committee 
The study protocol will be subjected to and approved by the ethical committee of the 
Medical Faculty, Lund University, before the start of the study. 
 
 
 

Evaluation of Triathlon  - a new total knee prosthesis system 
Evaluation of Triathlon,  
Amendment No. 2, April 2009 
 
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Amendment No. 2 to Evaluation of Triathlon - a new total 
knee prosthesis system  
3. Number of Subjects 
360 patients in six individually randomized sub-studies (30 patients in each randomized 
group) will be enrolled into the study over a 12 months recruitment period per sub-study. 
 
Study Design Summary Page 
• A total of 360 patients will be included in the study, with 30 patients in each 
group of sub-studies.