TITLE:
Kinematically Aligned Total Knee Arthroplasty for Valgus Osteoarthritis of More than 10°―Is It Still a “Challenging Surgery”?
AUTHORS:
Yoshinori Soda, Toshiya Kano, Mitsuhiro Nakamura
KEYWORDS:
Total Knee Arthroplasty, Kinematic Alignment, Valgus Deformity, Calipered Technique
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.13 No.9,
September
1,
2023
ABSTRACT: Mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for valgus knee is considered a “challenging surgery.” Recently, the kinematic alignment (KA) method has gained attention. This study aimed to present objective clinical data, such as intraoperative balance assessment and radiographic evaluation of postoperative lower extremity alignment after TKA using the KA method for valgus deformity. Twenty-one TKA knees (mean age, 74 years; 2 males, 19 females) with KA for severe valgus deformity (hip-knee-ankle-angle ≥ 10°) performed at our department in the past 3 years were included in this study. Intraoperative gap and balance measurements and postoperative radiographic evaluation were performed. A total arc of range of motion was achieved up to 98% of preoperative values at 3 weeks postoperatively. Intraoperative gap and balance were stable throughout the entire range of motion. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in either balance or gap values at each flexion angle. KA TKA is a “simple surgery” rather than a “challenging surgery” because additional soft tissue procedures are not required, operative time is short, intraoperative and postoperative balance is very stable, and a good alignment is achieved. This procedure may relieve surgeons of the stress of TKA for valgus deformities.