Preoperative Radiological Assessment of The Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgery method that can reduce symptoms and restore joint functions. Long-term success of this operation depends on the correct anatomical and mechanical planning before the prosthetic material implantation. Accurate implant alignment together with anatomical balance provides more successful clinical outcomes and longer duration of the prosthetic material. Improper preoperative planning may cause implant loosening and increased load on the knee joint. Conventional radiographs are the most frequently used imaging methods for this purpose. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be used in required cases. In addition, computer-aided systems have come into use and successful results have been reported. Early radiographic evaluation is unnecessary after an uncomplicated TKA. Preoperative imaging has several aims such as to assess the severity of the disease, to analyze the reserve bone tissue, to review the relevant anatomy, and to decide which implant and surgical approach will be applied. In this article, we aimed to present the necessary and also auxiliary radiological evaluations made before TKA in order to achieve better clinical results.

Knee-Spine Syndrome: Management Dilemma When Knee Osteoarthritis Coexists With Spine Degeneration

“…Radiological techniques evaluate axial, sagittal, and coronal planes for angle, axis, and index measurement [ 31 ]. The three sites include the pelvis with both hips in anteroposterior view, lumbosacral spine in lateral view, and bilateral knee in anteroposterior view in standing posture or a hip-knee-ankle long film of the lower extremity, to identify any significant contributing degeneration of any other site [ 32 ]. The outcome can be prognosticated before arthroplasty, and the likely need for a secondary procedure can be discussed [ 33 , 34 ].…”

The Association between “Knee Movement” Method and Traditional Radiograph Positioning Procedure with the Incidence of True Lateral Knee Radiograph Achieved

“…However, while the standing position might cause joint space height difference of the femorotibial joint compared to the decubitus position 18 , the main focus of lateral knee radiograph is not to evaluate the femorotibial communal space. Note that in the context of pre-operative assessment of total knee replacement for knee osteoarthritis, both anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views of the knee will be required, the AP views will be used to evaluate the joint space 19 . Our study also didn’t measure the timing to conduct the KM method, compared with the traditional procedure.…”