CR Type Knee Replacement

Cruciate Retaining (CR) Knee Replacement

A Cruciate Retaining (CR) knee replacement is a type of total knee replacement that preserves the
posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) during surgery. This approach helps maintain more of the knee’s natural movement patterns and may offer a more natural feel after surgery.

What is a CR Knee Replacement?

• • The surgeon replaces the damaged surfaces of the knee joint with artificial components, keeping the PCL intact.
  • The PCL, one of the two main ligaments in the knee, is essential for stability and movement.
  • The CR implant works alongside the preserved PCL to allow for more natural knee movement.

Why Choose CR?

Preserves Natural Movement: Retaining the PCL helps maintain the knee’s natural kinematics (movement patterns).

Potential for Better Proprioception: The PCL contains mechanoreceptors contributing to proprioception (the sense of joint position), which may be better preserved with CR implants.

Potential for Better Stability: Some surgeons believe keeping the PCL can enhance knee stability.

However, the choice between CR and posterior-stabilized (PS) implants often depends on the patient’s anatomy and surgeon’s preference.

Important Considerations

• While CR implants aim to preserve natural movement, some studies suggest PS implants may offer better range of motion in certain cases.
• Long-term outcomes between CR and PS designs are still under evaluation.
• CR implants may not be suitable for severe deformities or cases of PCL insufficiency.