Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of implant component alignment on
objective and subjective outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The rotation
of the femoral component and its influence on the final results were also examined.
After exclusion, the study examined 102 patients (mean age, 66.28 years; range, 51–79
years) who had undergone unilateral TKA. All of the operative procedures were performed
by one surgeon with one type of implant. One year after the operation, improvements
in Knee Society's Knee Scoring System, functional score, Western Ontario and McMaster
Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and Visual Analog Scale were observed; however,
none showed a significant correlation with any of the parameters analyzed by X-ray
or computed tomography (CT) (α, β, γ, δ angles and posterior condylar angle [PCA]).
Significant improvements were found for the vast majority of the parameters used for
gate analysis at the final follow-up. Significant correlations were found between
PCA angle and differences in stance phase, swing phase of the operated limb, and step
width (all p = 0.03). No other significant relationships were found between gait parameters and
indicators measured by X-ray and CT. None of the analyzed radiographic parameters,
including rotation of the femoral component, correlated with final clinical results.
Neither femoral internal rotation of 3° to 6°, nor rotation of 0° ± 3° or 0° ± 6°
influenced the outcome. One year after TKA, a significant improvement was observed
in both functional and gait parameters.
Keywords
total knee arthroplasty - outcomes - radiographic parameters
