Different References for Valgus Cut Angle in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER

Authors

1 Department of knee Surgery, Firoozgar Hospital, Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies at BIDMC - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

3 BIDMC, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

4 McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

5 Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

6 Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

Abstract

Background: The valgus cut angle (VCA) of the distal femur in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is measured preoperatively
on three-joint alignment radiographs. The anatomical axis of the femur can be described as the anatomical axis of the
full length of the femur or as the anatomical axis of the distal half of the femur, which may result in different angles
in some cases. During TKA, the anatomical axis of the femur is determined by intramedullary femoral guides, which
may follow the distal half or near full anatomical axis, based on the length of the femoral guide. The aim of this study
was to compare using the anatomical axis of the full length of the femur versus the anatomical axis of the distal half of
the femur for measuring VCA, in normal and varus aligned femurs. We hypothesized that the VCA would be different
based upon these two definitions of the anatomical axis of the femur.
Methods: Full-length weight bearing radiographs were used to determine three-joint alignment in normal aligned
(Lateral Distal Femoral Angle; LDFA = 87º ± 2º) and varus aligned (LDFA >89º) femurs. Full-length anatomical axismechanical
axis angle (angle 1) and distal half anatomical axis-mechanical axis angle (angle 2) were measured in
all subjects by two independent orthopedic surgeons using a DICOM viewer software (PACS). Angles 1 and 2 were
compared in normal and varus aligned subjects to determine whether there was a significant difference.
Results: Ninety-seven consecutive subjects with normally aligned femurs and 97 consecutive subjects with varus
aligned femurs were included in this study. In normally aligned femurs, the mean value of angle 1 was 5.05° ± 0.76°
and for angle 2 was 3.62° ± 1.19°, which were statistically different (P= 0.0001). In varus aligned femurs, the mean
value of angle 1 was 5.42° ± 0.85° and for angle 2 was 4.23° ± 1.27°, which were also statistically different (P=
0.0047).
Conclusion: The two different methods of outlining the anatomical axis of the femur lead to different results in
both normal and varus-aligned femurs. This should be considered in determination of the valgus cut angle on preoperative
radiographs and be adjusted according to the length of the intramedullary guide.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 6, Issue 4
July 2018
Pages 289-293

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 October 2017
  • Accept Date: 04 March 2018

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