Gait after knee arthroplasty for femoral tumor. Foot pressure patterns recorded in 20 patients.

We evaluated pressure distribution patterns under the feet during gait in 20 patients after resection of malignant bone tumor and endoprosthetic replacement of the distal femur. In all cases, a modular cementless, hinged prosthesis had been used. The examination was performed after 4 (1-6) years. Shortened contact phase, decreased peak pressure, and reduced force-time integral during gait analysis were observed on the operated side. Peak pressure in the heel and the toe regions was decreased and the load (force-time integral) in the metatarsal heads and the big toe regions was reduced. There was a positive correlation between load under the foot and knee extension strength, measured isokinetically.