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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®
Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® 1/2013

01-01-2013 | Symposium: Papers Presented at the Annual Meetings of the Knee Society

Which Factors Increase Risk of Malalignment of the Hip-Knee-Ankle Axis in TKA?

Authors: Arun B. Mullaji, FRCS(Ed), MCh(Orth), MS(Orth), Gautam M. Shetty, MS(Orth), A. P. Lingaraju, MS(Orth), Sagar Bhayde, MS(Orth)

Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Computer navigation has improved accuracy and reduced the percentage of alignment outliers in TKA. However, the characteristics of outliers and the risk factors for limb malalignment after TKA are still unclear.

Questions/Purposes

We therefore addressed the following questions: (1) What is the incidence and characteristics of outliers for postoperative limb mechanical axis (hip-knee-ankle [HKA] angle outside the conventional 180° ± 3° range) and component alignment in TKA? And (2) what are the preoperative clinical or radiographic risk factors for limb mechanical axis malalignment in TKA?

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of 1500 computer-assisted TKAs to identify outliers for postoperative HKA axis and component alignment and determined risk factors for malalignment. Full-length hip-to-ankle and knee radiographs were used to measure preoperative HKA angle, femoral coronal bowing, joint divergence angle, tibial subluxation, and tibial bone loss and postoperative HKA angle and femoral and tibial component angle.

Results

The incidence of outliers for postoperative limb mechanical axis, femoral component alignment, and tibial component alignment was 7% (112 of 1500 TKAs), 7%, and 8%, respectively, with 70% of limbs placed in excessive varus and 30% in excessive valgus. Preoperative varus deformity of more than 20° and femoral bowing of more than 5° were associated with increased risk of placing the limb mechanical axis outside the acceptable ± 3° range after computer-assisted TKA.

Conclusions

The presence of preoperative radiographic risk factors should alert the surgeon to increased chance of malalignment and every measure should be undertaken in such at-risk knees to ensure proper limb and component alignment and soft tissue balance.

Level of Evidence

Level II, prognostic study. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence
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Metadata
Title
Which Factors Increase Risk of Malalignment of the Hip-Knee-Ankle Axis in TKA?
Authors
Arun B. Mullaji, FRCS(Ed), MCh(Orth), MS(Orth)
Gautam M. Shetty, MS(Orth)
A. P. Lingaraju, MS(Orth)
Sagar Bhayde, MS(Orth)
Publication date
01-01-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0009-921X
Electronic ISSN: 1528-1132
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-012-2520-3

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