Proper alignment of the components and soft tissue balance are the two factors that determine the long term outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). On the femoral side a distal cut made perpendicular to the MA will restore the MA of the leg. Different methods are commonly used to resect the femur perpendicular to its MA. In uncomplicated cases, most surgeons routinely use a fixed valgus cut angle (VCA) of 5° or 6°. Various studies have questioned the use of fixed valgus angle resection to restore the mechanical axis. The purpose of this prospective study is to analyze the variability in the valgus angle following computer assisted TKA. Twenty-three patients who underwent computer assisted TKA in our institution in 2009 were involved in the study. A total of 40 knees were available for analysis. All the knees underwent a CT scanogram postoperatively. Each scanogram was analyzed using the Amrita medvision(r) software. The angle subtended between the mechanical axis and the distal femoral anatomic axis is the valgus angle. Two independent observers calculated all the values and the interobserver reliability was calculated.Introduction
Materials and methods
