Abstract
Introduction
Although Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to correct abnormal frontal plane knee biomechanics, little is known about this effect beyond 6 months. The purpose of this study was to compare sequentially the knee adduction moment during level-walking before and after TKA in varus knees. We hypothesized that adduction moment would diminish after TKA proportionate to the tibio-femoral realignment in degrees.
Methods
Fifteen patients (17 TKA's) with varus knees were prospectively enrolled and gait analysis performed prior to, 6 months and 1 year following TKA. Reflective markers were placed on the lower extremity and motion data collected using six infrared cameras (Qtrac, Qualysis). Ground reaction forces were recorded with a multicomponent force plate (Kistler). A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare changes in the peak adduction moment and peak dynamic varus angle over time.
Results
TKA corrected static knee alignment from 2.2 (2.5) degrees varus to 3.5 (2.7) degrees valgus (P < 0.001). Peak dynamic varus angle during gait was reduced from 9.7 (6.5) degrees to 3.6 (5.8) degrees at 6 months and 5.2 (7.6) degrees at 1 year (Main Effect of Time; P=0.005). Peak adduction moment was significantly reduced to 85% of pre-op level at 6 months (P=0.037) but subsequently increased to 94% of pre-op level at 1 year (P = 0.539). Post-op improvement in static alignment did not correlate with the change in adduction moment at any follow-up period (P = 0.671). A significant correlation was found between the increase in dynamic varus angle and the subsequent increase in adduction moment from the six-month to the one-year follow-up (P = 0.008).
Conclusion
TKA improves knee adduction moment at 6 months but this effect is lost with time (1 year). Despite restoration of static knee alignment and soft tissue balance, loading conditions at medial compartment remain high, predisposing to medial polyethylene wear, a finding reported by retrieval studies.
