Alignment of total knee arthroplasty: the relationship to radiolucency around the tibial component

• Published in: Medical engineering & physics 1995-04, Vol.17 (3), p.182-187
• Main Authors: Harvey, I.A., Manning, M.P., Sampath, S.A.C., Johnson, R., Elloy, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alignment; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena; Female; Humans; Knee Prosthesis - adverse effects; Knee Prosthesis - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Orthopedic surgery; Osteoarthritis - diagnostic imaging; Osteoarthritis - surgery; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Failure; Radiography; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tibia - diagnostic imaging; Tibia - surgery; tibial loosening; Time Factors; Total knee replacement
• ISSN: 1350-4533; 1873-4030
• DOI: 10.1016/1350-4533(95)95708-I

Between January 1982 and July 1985, 122 cemented ‘Accord’ total knee replacements were performed. Out of this number, 21 were lost to follow-up because of death (in 16), revision (2) due to infection, and failure to attend (3). The post-operative alignment of 101 prostheses were compared to the incidence of radiolucencies around the tibial component at 5 years follow-up. The mechanical axis was used as a reference. The mean alignment was 0.99° valgus with a standard deviation of 2.48°. Some 72% of knees were within 3° and 94% within 5° of true alignment. Using two methods of assessing radiolucencies there was a non-significant relationship between the alignment and radiolucencies. The alignment tolerance with this prosthesis is, therefore, at least 5°.