We studied 37 patients with varus osteoarthritis of the knee to determine the influence of the bone mineral density (BMD) on the varus deformity. There were 15 men (21 knees) and 22 women (38 knees). The mean age of the men was 69 years and of the women 68 years. BMD was measured in the L1–L4 spinal region using dual X-ray absorptiometry. In the women a low level of BMD was associated with varus deformity originating at the proximal tibia, but a high level was predominantly linked with deformity originating in the joint space. Similar findings were obtained in the men. Our results suggest that a low BMD predisposes to trabecular microfractures and consequently increased stress on the articular cartilage. A low BMD does not preclude osteoarthritic change in the knee

Interest in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis has increased in recent years with apparent improvement in the long-term results. This is a result of improved surgical technique, patient selection, and implant design. In an effort further to improve patient selection we analysed the relationship between the pre-operative alignment of the knee and the anatomical findings at the time of surgery. We compared these findings with the indications for UKA.

From 4021 total knee arthroplasties we compared intra-operative observations with the pre-operative clinical data in order to identify knees with isolated, medial, compartment changes, which would have been ideal candidates for UKA.

We found that only 247 of the knees (6.1%) met anatomical qualifications for isolated, medial, unicompartmental osteoarthritis, and of these, only 168 (4.3%) met clinical standards ideal for UKA. Pre-operative alignment showed a significant relationship with patterns of disease. Logistic regression revealed a relationship between pre-operative alignment and intra-operative findings resembling a Gaussian distribution. Patients with a pre-operative varus alignment of 7° were slightly more likely to be selected for UKA. But the further the anatomical alignment in either direction varies from 7° of varus, the more unlikely it is for the knee to exhibit a disease pattern of isolated, medial, unicompartmental osteoarthritis.

In arthritis of the varus knee, a high tibial osteotomy (HTO) redistributes load from the diseased medial compartment to the unaffected lateral compartment.

We report the outcome of 36 patients (33 men and three women) with 42 varus, arthritic knees who underwent HTO and dynamic correction using a Garches external fixator until they felt that normal alignment had been restored. The mean age of the patients was 54.11 years (34 to 68). Normal alignment was achieved at a mean 5.5 weeks (3 to 10) post-operatively. Radiographs, gait analysis and visual analogue scores for pain were measured pre- and post-operatively, at one year and at medium-term follow-up (mean six years; 2 to 10). Failure was defined as conversion to knee arthroplasty.

Pre-operative gait analysis divided the 42 knees into two equal groups with high (17 patients) or low (19 patients) adductor moments. After correction, a statistically significant (p < 0.001, t-test,) change in adductor moment was achieved and maintained in both groups, with a rate of failure of three knees (7.1%), and 89% (95% confidence interval (CI) 84.9 to 94.7) survivorship at medium-term follow-up.

At final follow-up, after a mean of 15.9 years (12 to 20), there was a survivorship of 59% (95% CI 59.6 to 68.9) irrespective of adductor moment group, with a mean time to conversion to knee arthroplasty of 9.5 years (3 to 18; 95% confidence interval ± 2.5).

HTO remains a useful option in the medium-term for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee but does not last in the long-term.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:601–7.

Aims. The aims of this study were: 1) to describe extended restricted kinematic alignment (E-rKA), a novel alignment strategy during robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA); 2) to compare residual medial compartment tightness following virtual surgical planning during RA-TKA using mechanical alignment (MA) and E-rKA, in the same set of osteoarthritic varus knees; 3) to assess the requirement of soft-tissue releases during RA-TKA using E-rKA; and 4) to compare the accuracy of surgical plan execution between knees managed with adjustments in component positioning alone, and those which require additional soft-tissue releases. Methods. Patients who underwent RA-TKA between January and December 2022 for primary varus osteoarthritis were included. Safe boundaries for E-rKA were defined. Residual medial compartment tightness was compared following virtual surgical planning using E-rKA and MA, in the same set of knees. Soft-tissue releases were documented. Errors in postoperative alignment in relation to planned alignment were compared between patients who did (group A) and did not (group B) require soft-tissue releases. Results. The use of E-rKA helped restore all knees within the predefined boundaries, with appropriate soft-tissue balancing. E-rKA compared with MA resulted in reduced residual medial tightness following surgical planning, in full extension (2.71 mm (SD 1.66) vs 5.16 mm (SD 3.10), respectively; p < 0.001), and 90° of flexion (2.52 mm (SD 1.63) vs 6.27 mm (SD 3.11), respectively; p < 0.001). Among the study population, 156 patients (78%) were managed with minor adjustments in component positioning alone, while 44 (22%) required additional soft-tissue releases. The mean errors in postoperative alignment were 0.53 mm and 0.26 mm among patients in group A and group B, respectively (p = 0.328). Conclusion. E-rKA is an effective and reproducible alignment strategy during RA-TKA, permitting a large proportion of patients to be managed without soft-tissue releases. The execution of minor alterations in component positioning within predefined multiplanar boundaries is a better starting point for gap management than soft-tissue releases. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(8):628–636

Several anatomical landmarks are preferable in order to achieve the precise decision of femoral component rotation in order to achieve a satisfying result in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The posterior condylar axis (PCA) is apparent and allows minimization of interobserver error compared with the transepicondylar axis or anterior-posterior axis. The rotation angle based on PCA observed during surgery differs from the angle measured on pre-and postoperative epicondylar view, because X-rays do not reflect the posterior condylar cartilage. We investigated the influence of the posterior condylar cartilage on setting the rotation angle of the femoral component in 184 knees in 112 patients with varus osteoarthritis undergoing TKA. Medial and lateral thickness of the resected posterior femoral condyle was measured before and after removing the cartilage to determine its thickness. The amount of rotation angle influenced by the cartilage is expressed as an inverse trigonometric function (arctangent) of the distance between the posterior condylar surfaces and the difference in thickness between the medial and lateral cartilage. Average thickness of the lateral and medial cartilage turned out to be 2.1±0.7mm and 0.7±0.7mm, respectively. The average rotation angle influenced by this difference was calculated to be 1.7±1.3°. These findings suggest that using PCA as a guide to determine the rotation angle of the femoral component results in approximately 1.5–2.0° of excess external rotation in varus osteoarthritis. Because of significant individual variability in condylar twist angle, formed by the intersection of the clinical epicondylar axis with the PCA, preoperative CT or epicondylar view is recommended in order to calculate this angle in each subject. Thickness of the posterior condylar cartilage should be taken into consideration when finalizing the rotation angle of the femoral component by PCA in addition to transepicondylar and anterior-posterior axis

Aims. The aim of this study was to compare the post-operative radiographic and clinical outcomes between kinematically and mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). . Patients and Methods. A total of 60 TKAs (30 kinematically and 30 mechanically aligned) were performed in 60 patients with varus osteoarthritis of the knee using a navigation system. The angles of orientation of the joint line in relation to the floor, the conventional and true mechanical axis (tMA) (the line from the centre of the hip to the lowest point of the calcaneus) were compared, one year post-operatively, on single-leg and double-leg standing long leg radiographs between the groups. The range of movement and 2011 Knee Society Scores were also compared between the groups at that time. Results. The angles of orientation of the joint line in the kinematic group changed from slight varus on double-leg standing to slight valgus with single-leg standing. The mechanical axes in the kinematic group passed through a neutral position of the knee in the true condition when the calcaneus was considered. The post-operative angles of flexion and functional activity scores were significantly better in the kinematic than in the mechanical group (p < 0.003 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusion. A kinematically aligned TKA results in a joint line which has a more parallel orientation in relation to the floor during single- and double-leg standing, and more neutral weight-bearing in tMA than a mechanically aligned TKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:640–6

Aims. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of osteophyte excision on deformity correction and soft tissue gap balance in varus knees undergoing computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. A total of 492 consecutive, cemented, cruciate-substituting TKAs performed for varus osteoarthritis were studied. After exposure and excision of both cruciates and menisci, it was noted from operative records the corrective interventions performed in each case. Knees in which no releases after the initial exposure, those which had only osteophyte excision, and those in which further interventions were performed were identified. From recorded navigation data, coronal and sagittal limb alignment, knee flexion range, and medial and lateral gap distances in maximum knee extension and 90° knee flexion with maximal varus and valgus stresses, were established, initially after exposure and excision of both cruciate ligaments, and then also at trialling. Knees were defined as ‘aligned’ if the hip-knee-ankle axis was between 177° and 180°, (0° to 3° varus) and ‘balanced’ if medial and lateral gaps in extension and at 90° flexion were within 2 mm of each other. Results. Of 50 knees (10%) with no soft tissue releases (other than cruciate ligaments), 90% were aligned, 81% were balanced, and 73% were aligned and balanced. In 288 knees (59%) only osteophyte excision was performed by subperiosteally releasing the deep medial collateral ligament. Of these, 98% were aligned, 80% were balanced, and 79% were aligned and balanced. In 154 knees (31%), additional procedures were performed (reduction osteotomy, posterior capsular release, and semimembranosus release). Of these, 89% were aligned, 68% were balanced, and 66% were aligned and balanced. The superficial medial collateral ligament was not released in any case. Conclusion. Two-thirds of all knees could be aligned and balanced with release of the cruciate ligaments alone and excision of osteophytes. Excision of osteophytes can be a useful step towards achieving deformity correction and gap balance without having to resort to soft tissue release in varus knees while maintaining classical coronal and sagittal alignment of components. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6 Supple A):49–58

We investigated whether the extension gap in total knee replacement (TKR) would be changed when the femoral component was inserted. The extension gap was measured with and without the femoral component in place in 80 patients with varus osteoarthritis undergoing posterior-stabilised TKR. The effect of a post-operative increase in the size of the femoral posterior condyles was also evaluated. The results showed that placement of the femoral component significantly reduced the medial and lateral extension gaps by means of 1.0 mm and 0.9 mm, respectively (p < 0.0001). The extension gap was reduced when a larger femoral component was selected relative to the thickness of the resected posterior condyle. When the post-operative posterior lateral condyle was larger than that pre-operatively, 17 of 41 knees (41%) showed a decrease in the extension gap of > 2.0 mm. When a specially made femoral trial component with a posterior condyle enlarged by 4 mm was tested, the medial and lateral extension gaps decreased further by means of 2.1 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively. If the thickness of the posterior condyle is expected to be larger than that pre-operatively, it should be recognised that the extension gap is likely to be altered. This should be taken into consideration when preparing the extension gap

We studied whether the presence of lateral osteophytes on plain radiographs was a predictor for the quality of cartilage in the lateral compartment of patients with varus osteoarthritic of the knee (Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 to 3). The baseline MRIs of 344 patients from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) who had varus osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee on hip-knee-ankle radiographs were reviewed. Patients were categorised using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) osteophyte grading system into 174 patients with grade 0 (no osteophytes), 128 grade 1 (mild osteophytes), 28 grade 2 (moderate osteophytes) and 14 grade 3 (severe osteophytes) in the lateral compartment (tibia). All patients had Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or 3 arthritis of the medial compartment. The thickness and volume of the lateral cartilage and the percentage of full-thickness cartilage defects in the lateral compartment was analysed. There was no difference in the cartilage thickness or cartilage volume between knees with osteophyte grades 0 to 3. The percentage of full-thickness cartilage defects on the tibial side increased from < 2% for grade 0 and 1 to 10% for grade 3. The lateral compartment cartilage volume and thickness is not influenced by the presence of lateral compartment osteophytes in patients with varus OA of the knee. Large lateral compartment osteophytes (grade 3) increase the likelihood of full-thickness cartilage defects in the lateral compartment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1634–9

One of four normal people had mechanical alignment of 3 degrees varus and more than so-called “constitutional varus”. Parallel joint line to the floor found in both neutral and varus alignment. Therefore, joint line orientation may play an important role in clinical outcomes after TKA. For reconstituting joint line parallel to the floor advocated by 30 varus tibial cut that was introduced by Hungerford et al. The aims of this study attempt to compare between difference radiographic parameter in term of clinical outcomes. The prospective study conducted on 94 primary varus osteoarthritis knees undergone CAS TKA using either classical method (51 knees) or anatomical method (43 knees). Clinical outcomes including WOMAC scores, Oxford knee scores and ROM were evaluated preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Full leg standing hip-knee-ankle were measured mechanical axis, tibial cut angle and tibial joint line angle at 6 months after surgery. The results revealed that postoperative neutral alignment (mechanical axis 0± 3°), 4–5°varus and ≥6°varus showed no significant difference in term of WOMAC scores, Oxford scores and ROM. Including comparison between classical tibial cut and anatomical tibial cut, postoperative joint line parallel to the floor and oblique joint line had no significant in clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, anatomical tibial cut and joint line parallel to the floor had significant WOMAC scores improvement than the others. In conclusion, the joint line parallel to the floor may be one of key successes after TKA more than postoperative limb alignment

Background. In recent literatures, medial instability after TKA was reported to deteriorate early postoperative pain relief and have negative effects on functional outcome. Furthermore, lateral laxity of the knee is physiological, necessary for medial pivot knee kinematics, and important for postoperative knee flexion angle after cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (CR-TKA). However, the influences of knee stability and laxity on postoperative patient satisfaction after CR-TKA are not clearly described. We hypothesized that postoperative knee stability and ligament balance affected patient satisfaction after CR-TKA. In this study, we investigated the effect of early postoperative ligament balance at extension on one-year postoperative patient satisfaction and ambulatory function in CR-TKAs. Materials & Methods. Sixty patients with varus osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee underwent CR-TKAs were included in this study. The mean age was 73.6 years old. Preoperative average varus deformity (HKA angle) was 12.5 degrees with long leg standing radiographs. The knee stability and laxity at extension were assessed by stress radiographies; varus-valgus stress X-ray at one-month after operation. We measured joint separation distance (mm) at medial compartment with valgus stress as medial joint opening (MJO), and distance at lateral compartment with varus stress as lateral joint opening (LJO) at knee extension position. To analyze ligament balance; relative lateral laxity comparing to the medial, varus angle was calculated. New Knee Society Score (NKSS) was used to evaluate the patient satisfaction at one-year after TKA. We measured basic ambulatory functions using 3m timed up and go test (TUG) at one-year after surgery. The influences of stability and laxity parameters (MJO, LJO and varus angle at extension) on one-year patient satisfaction and ambulatory function (TUG) was analyzed using single linear regression analysis (p<0.01). Results. MJOs at knee extension one-month after TKA negatively correlated to patient satisfaction (r=−0.37, p<0.01) and positively correlated to TUG time (r=0.38, p<0.01). LJOs at knee extension had no statistically significant correlations to patient satisfaction and TUG. The extension varus angle had significant positive correlation with patient satisfaction (r=0.40, p<0.01). Discussions. In our study, we have found significant correlations of the early postoperative MJOs at extension to postoperative patient satisfaction and TUG one-year after CR-TKA. Our results suggested that early postoperative medial knee stabilities at extension were important for one-year postoperative patient satisfaction and ambulatory function in CR-TKA. Other interest finding was that postoperative patient satisfaction was positively correlated with extension varus angle. This finding suggested that varus ligament balance; relative lateral laxity to medial stability, was beneficial for postoperative patient satisfaction after CR-TKA. Intra-operative soft tissue balance had been reported to significantly affect postoperative knee stabilities. Therefore, with our findings, surgeons might be better to manage intra-operative soft tissue balance to preserve medial stability at extension with permitting lateral laxity, which would enhance patient satisfaction and ambulatory function after CR-TKA for varus type OA knee. Conclusion. Early postoperative medial knee stability and relative lateral laxity would be beneficial for patient satisfaction and function after CR-TKA

Purpose. Degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee usually shows arthritic change in the medial tibiofemoral joint with severe varus deformity. In TKA, the medial release technique is often used for achieving mediolateral balancing, but there is some disagreement regarding the importance of pursuing the perfect rectangular gaps. Our hypothesis is that the minimal release especially in MCL is beneficial regarding on retaining the physiological medial stability and knee kinematics, which leads to improved functional outcome. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the thickness of the tibia resection if the extent of the medial release is minimized to preserve the medial soft tissue in TKA. Patients and Methods. Thirty TKAs were performed for varus osteoarthritis by a single surgeon. In the TKA, femoral bone was prepared according to the measured resection technique, bilateral meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament were excised. After the osteophytes surrounding the femoral posterior condyle were removed, the knee with the femoral trial component was fully extended and the amount of the tibial bone cut was decided for the 10mm tibial insert by referring to the medial joint line of the femoral trial component. After the every bone preparation and placement of all the trial components, If flexion contracture due to the narrow extension gap was found, additional tibial bone cut or medial soft tissue release were performed. Results. MCL deep layer release was performed following the medial meniscus removal in all the TKAs, additional tibial bone cut was performed for three cases, but there was no additional medial soft tissue treatment in any TKAs. Final extension gap in the medial side was 21.2 mm, the average of the tibial insert thickness actually used was 10.6 mm, and the thickness of all the femoral implant at the distal part was 9 mm, therefore the residual medial extension gap in extension was averaged 1.8 ± 0.54 mm. On the other hand, the thickness of the tibial bone cut in the lateral side was various from 11 mm to 16 mm (average was 12.9 ± 1.13 mm). Discussion and Conclusions. All the TKAs in this study were performed to create the proper medial stability in extension without excessive medial release by cutting the adequately thck tibial bone, which lead to thicker tibia resection than the applied tibial insert in the lateral side. As lateral laxity is necessary for the medial pivot movement of the normal knee, slight lateral laxity can be accepted with TKA. The balance between lateral laxity and medial stability in both extension and flexion has not been well elucidated, further studies are necessary regarding on in vivo kinematic

PURPOSE. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a successful technique for treating painful osteoarthritic knees. However, the patients' satisfaction is not still comparable with total hip arthroplasty. Basically, the conditions with operated joints were anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knees, thus, the abnormal kinematics is one of the main reason for the patients' incomplete satisfaction. Bi-cruciate stabilized (BCS) TKA was established to reproduce both ACL and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) function and expected to improve the abnormal kinematics. However, there were few reports to evaluate intraoperative kinematics in BCS TKA using navigation system. Hence, the aim in this study is to reveal the intraoperative kinematics in BCS TKA and compare the kinematics with conventional posterior stabilized (PS) TKA. Materials and Methods. Twenty five consecutive subjects (24 women, 1 men; average age, 77 years; age range, 58–85 years) with varus osteoarthritis undergoing navigated BCS TKA (Journey II, Smith&Nephew) were enrolled in this study. An image-free navigation system (Stryker 4.0 image-free computer navigation system; Stryker) was used for the operation. Registration was performed after minimum medial soft tissue release, ACL and PCL resection, and osteophyte removal. Then, kinematics including tibiofemoral rotational angles from maximum extension to maximum flexion were recorded. The measurements were performed again after implantation. We compared the kinematics with the kinematics of paired matched fifty subjects who underwent conventional posterior stabilized (PS) TKA (25 subjects with Triathlon, Stryker; 25 subjects with PERSONA, ZimmerBiomet) using navigation statistically. Results. Preoperative tibiofemoral rotational kinematics were almost the same between the three implants groups. Kinematics at post-implantation found that tibia was significantly internally rotated compared to the kinematics at registration in all three implants at maximum extension position (p<0.05), however the tibial rotational position with BCS TKA was significantly externally rotated at maximum extension position, compared to the other two implant position (p<0.05). The tibial rotational position with Triathlon PS TKA was externally rotated at 60 degrees of flexion compared to the other two implant position, however the results were not statistically significant. Discussion and Conclusion. Previous study found that PCL resection changed tibial rotational position and the amount of tibial internal rotation, affecting postoperative maximum flexion angles. This study found that BCS TKA can reduce the amount of rotational changes, compared to conventional PS TKA. Further studies are needed to investigate the kinematic changes in BCS TKA affect the postoperative clinical outcomes

The appearance of the ‘grand-piano sign’ on the anterior resected surface of the femur has been considered to be a marker for correct femoral rotational alignment during total knee replacement. Our study was undertaken to assess quantitatively the morphological patterns on the resected surface after anterior femoral resection with various angles of external rotation, using a computer-simulation technique. A total of 50 right distal femora with varus osteoarthritis in 50 Korean patients were scanned using computerised tomography. Computer image software was used to simulate the anterior femoral cut, which was applied at an external rotation of 0°, 3° and 6° relative to the posterior condylar axis, and parallel to the surgical and clinical epicondylar axes in each case. The morphological patterns on the resected surface were quantified and classified as the ‘grand-piano sign’, ‘the boot sign’ and the ‘butterfly sign’. The surgeon can use the analogy of these quantified sign patterns to ensure that a correct rotational alignment has been obtained intra-operatively

Background. Data on varus-valgus and rotational profiles can be obtained during navigated total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Such intraoperative kinematic data might provide instructive clinical information for refinement of surgical techniques, as well as information on the anticipated postoperative clinical outcomes. However, few studies have compared intraoperative kinematics and pre- and postoperative clinical outcomes; therefore, the clinical implications of intraoperative kinematics remain unclear. In clinical practice, subjects with better femorotibial rotation in the flexed position often achieve favorable postoperative range of motion (ROM); however, no objective data have been reported to prove this clinical impression. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation between intraoperative rotation and pre- and postoperative flexion angles. Materials and Methods. Twenty-six patients with varus osteoarthritis undergoing navigated posterior-stabilized TKA (Triathlon, Stryker, Mahwah, NJ) were enrolled in this study. An image-free navigation system (Stryker 4.0 image-free computer navigation system; Stryker) was used for the operation. Registration was performed after minimum soft tissue release and osteophyte removal. Then, maximum internal and external rotational stress was manually applied on the knee with maximum extension and 90° flexion by the same surgeon, and the rotational angles were recorded using the navigation system. After knee implantation, the same rotational stress was applied and the rotational angles were recorded again. In addition, ROM was measured before surgery and at 1 month after surgery. The correlation between the amount of pre- and postoperative tibial rotation and ROM was statistically evaluated. Results. The amount of tibial rotation at registration was positively correlated with that after surgery (p < 0.05). Although the amount of tibial rotation at maximum extension was not correlated with ROM, the amount of rotation at 90° flexion at registration was positively correlated with pre- and postoperative ROM (p < 0.05). Moreover, the amount of tibial rotation at 90° flexion was positively correlated with postoperative ROM (p < 0.05). Conclusion. It is well known that preoperative ROM affects postoperative ROM. Our results showed that better tibial rotation at 90° flexion predicts favorable postoperative ROM, suggesting that flexibility of the surrounding soft tissues as well as the quadriceps muscles is an important factor for obtaining better ROM. Further evaluation of navigation-based kinematics during TKA surgery may provide useful information on ROM

INTRODUCTION. Rotational alignment of the femoral and tibial component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are separately determined based on the anatomy of each bone. Popular references are the transepicondylar axis (TEA) for femoral component, and medial one-third of the tibial tubercle for the tibial component. It was reported that these references are not in accordance with each other in osteoarthritic (OA) knees and rotational mismatch could occur even when the components were accurately aligned. There has been, however, a paucity of data as for the rotational mismatch after TKA for OA knees. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rotational mismatch between the femoral and tibial component after TKA for OA knees. SUBJECTS & METHODS. Eighty-four knees which underwent primary TKA for the varus osteoarthritis of the knee were analyzed. Those knees were chosen by the retrospective confirmation of the precise rotational alignments of both femoral and tibial components by postoperative computed tomography (with ±3 degrees to the targeted reference lines described below). The femoral reference line was the surgical epicondylar axis and the tibial reference line was Akagi's line; a line connecting the midpoint of the tibial insertion of the posterior cruciate ligament and the medial border of patellar tendon. Intraoperative, dynamic evaluations of the rotational mismatch between femoral and tibial components was performed with a special device attached to the mobile-bearing trials at full extension and in neutral, passive external rotation and passive internal rotation. RESULTS. The average rotational mismatch (in neutral position) was 4.3 ± 4.1º internal rotation of the tibial component relative to the femoral component. There was a wide range of variation from 11ºinternal rotation to 6ºexternal rotation of the tibial components. The average rotational allowance of the mobile mechanism (Between passive Internal & external rotation) was13.8 ± 5.4º (range, 6 to 30°). Neutral position was located approximately in the center of rotational allowance and 17 knees were not correctable to neutral even in the presence of mobile mechanism. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. It was demonstrated that rotational mismatch between femoral and tibial components exists in extension even when both components aligned to the anatomical reference correctly. The rotational allowance of the mobile mechanism was approximately 14º and has enough tolerance to forgive the rotational mismatch to the both direction. However, 20% of the knee were not correctable to neutral rotation in the presence of mobile mechanism and operating surgeons should be aware of this fact especially when fixed and rotational motion guided knee (e.g. medial pivot knee)

Purpose. To investigate the tibiofemoral rotational profiles during surgery in navigated posterior-stabilized (PS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and investigated the effect on postoperative maximum flexion angles. Materials and Methods. At first, twenty-five consecutive subjects (24 women and 1 man; age: mean, 77 years; range, 58–85 years) with varus osteoarthritis treated with navigated PS TKA (Triathlon, Stryker, Mahwah, NJ) were enrolled in this study. Kinematic parameters, including the tibiofemoral rotational angles from maximum extension to maximum flexion, were recorded thrice before and after PCL resections, and after implantation. The effect of PCL resection and component implantation on tibiofemoral rotational kinematics was statistically evaluated. Then, the effect of tibiofemoral rotational alignment changes on the postoperative maximum angles were retrospectively examined with 96 subjects (84 women, 12 men; average age, 76 years; age range, 56–88 years) who underwent primary TKA. Results. The tibiofemoral kinematics revealed a significant tibial internal rotation after PCL resection, which further increased after implantation compared with that before PCL resection (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the tibial internal rotations at 60° and 90° flexion after PCL resection and implantation were significantly increased compared with those before PCL resection (p < 0.05). The amount of tibial internal rotation from 90° flexion to maximum flexion was significantly decreased after PCL resection and implantation compared with that before PCL resection (p < 0.05). Furthermore, multi-linear regression analysis found that the internal changes of the rotational alignment was independent factor for the worse improvement of the postoperative maximum flexion angles (R2=0.078, p=0.0067). There was a positive correlation between preoperative tibial external rotational alignment and the internal changes of the postoperative rotational alignment (R2=0.172, p<0.0001), however, no correlation was found between the preoperative rotational alignment and the improvement of the maximum flexion angles. Discussion and Conclusion. The study revealed that PCL resection changed the tibial rotational alignment and decreased the amount of tibial internal rotation. The implantation of PS components further increased the internal rotational alignment and could not compensate for the tibiofemoral rotation. Finally, the internal changes of rotational alignment affected the improvement of the maximum flexion angles, suggesting that rotational alignment is one of important factors to achieve better postoperative maximum flexion angles. Although the factors which affect the rotational alignment remains unknown in this study, these results suggest that further development of PS TKA, including the surgical technique and implant design, are needed to achieve better knee kinematics, following better clinical outcomes

Background:. Appropriate positioning of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) components is a key concern of surgeons. Post-operative varus alignment has been associated with poorer clinical outcome scores and increased failure rates. However, obtaining neutral alignment can be challenging in cases with significant pre-operative varus deformity. Questions:. 1) In patients with pre-operative varus deformities, does residual post-operative varus limb alignment lead to increased revision rates or poorer outcome scores compared to correction to neutral alignment? 2) Does placing the tibial component in varus alignment lead to increased revision rates and poorer outcome scores? 3) Does femoral component alignment affect revision rates and outcome scores? 4) Do these findings change in patients with at least 10 degrees of varus alignment pre-operatively?. Patients and Methods:. 553 patients undergoing TKA for varus osteoarthritis were identified from a prospective database. Patients were divided into those with residual post-operative varus and those with neutral post-operative alignment. Revision rates and clinical outcome scores were compared between the two groups. Revision rates and outcome scores were also assessed based on post-operative component alignment. The analysis was repeated in a subgroup of patients with at least 10 degrees of pre-operative varus. Results:. At a mean follow-up of 5.7 years (range: 2 to 19.8 years), residual varus deformity did not yield significantly increased revision rates or poorer outcome scores. Varus tibial component alignment and valgus femoral component alignment were associated with poorer outcome scores. Results were similar in the significant varus subgroup. Conclusions:. Residual post-operative varus deformity after TKA does not yield poorer clinical results in patients with pre-operative varus deformities, providing tibial component varus is avoided

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an exceptionally successful and robust treatment for disabling knee disease, but many efforts continue to improve patient postoperative satisfaction and performance. One approach to improving performance is to restore TKA motions closer to those in healthy knees. Based upon an idealized model of knee motions, it is possible to design tibiofemoral articulating surfaces to promote natural kinematics and force transfer (Fiedler et al., Acta Bioeng Biomech, 2011). Such an asymmetric design is expected to promote rollback in stance phase that continues through deeply flexed activities. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) To determine if a TKA designed on a theoretical basis achieves the proposed motions in vivo, and (2) To track postoperative kinematic patterns with examinations at 6–12 weeks, 6 months and one year postoperatively. This paper reports results of the initial cohort that has completed 6–12 week and 6-month examinations. Eight patients, including 3 females, with unilateral TKA for varus osteoarthritis provided written informed consent prior to beginning the study. Patients averaged 66±9 years, 168±14cm, and 28±3 BMI. Patients performed three weightbearing activities observed using pulsed x-ray flat-panel imaging at 30Hz: stepping up from flexion to extension on a 20cm step, lunging to maximum flexion with the foot placed on a 20 cm step, and kneeling to maximum flexion with the shin placed on a padded support. Three-dimensional knee kinematics were quantified using model-image registration to determine flexion, tibial internal rotation, anteroposterior movement of the femoral condyles (relative to the tibial AP center) and average center of rotation (CoR) in the transverse plane. During the maximum-flexion lunge and kneeling activities subjects exhibited average knee flexion of 104°–110° and tibial internal rotation of 2°–6° (Table 1). At 6–12 weeks, the medial/lateral condyles were at −3mm/−8mm and −1mm/−6mm during maximum flexion lunge and kneeling, respectively. During the stair activity from 0° to 70° flexion, there were small tibial internal rotations (1°/5°) and anterior medial (2mm/5mm) and lateral (3mm/3mm) condylar translations at both time points (Figure 1). The average CoRs for the stair activity were medial +18% and +5% for the 6–12 week and 6-month exams, respectively. It has long been assumed knee kinematics change during a patient's first one or two postoperative years. In our early post-op cohort, changes in weight-bearing kinematics over the first 6 postoperative months are small. In maximal flexion activities, patients exhibited flexion similar to similar cohorts studied at least one year post-op (Clin Orthop, 410:131–138, 2003). Similarly, kinematics during the weight-bearing step activity were similar in pattern and magnitude to those previously reported for posterior cruciate-retaining (CR) TKA at least one year post-op (Clin Orthop, 426:187–193, 2004). The average CoRs were medial for the stair activity, which is normal for healthy knees but uncommon for CR TKA. Early post-op results with an asymmetric CR TKA implant intended to promote physiologic motion show flexion and stair kinematics similar to many successful CR designs at longer follow-up. The medial CoR indicates closer-to-physiologic motion than commonly is observed in CR TKA