Coronal Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty and Its Effect on Midterm Outcome

Sukumaran Subbiah Subramanian, Mugundhan Moongilpatti Sengodan, Singaravadivelu Vaidhyanathan

Abstract: Various factors contribute to the decrease in the longevity of the total knee arthroplasty. Of these various factor, mal-alignment of the components and hence the axial alignment of limb is well within the control of the operating surgeon. The aim of the study is to compare the axial alignment of the lower extremity before and after surgery in patients undergoing total knee replacement by assessing the mechanical axis in the full length weight bearing radiograph taken preoperatively and post operatively. And to assess the midterm results with reference to the mechanical axis. While in all the patients in the study group showed a statistically significant improvement between the preoperative and postoperative knee scores, the unfavorable group did not show any significant improvement in the knee scores. In midterm follow up we conclude that a strong correlation exists between the functional outcome and the axial alignment of the extremity postoperatively.

Keywords: mechanical axis, coronal, alignment, knee arthroplasty, weight bearing radiograph