Restricted kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty with an anatomically designed implant can restore constitutional coronal lower limb alignment

Abstract

PurposeRestricted kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty (rKA‐TKA) may not restore the constitutional varus alignment in most patients with knee osteoarthritis. This study aimed to investigate (1) the extent to which constitutional lower limb alignment can be restored by rKA‐TKA using an anatomically designed implant and (2) which lower limb alignment parameters are associated with patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs).MethodsThis study included 60 patients who underwent rKA‐TKA using an anatomically designed implant. Radiographic alignment parameters, including mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), coronal hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA), coronal joint line obliquity (JLO), posterior tibial slope (PTS), single‐leg standing knee flexion angle (KFA), sagittal JLO, and arithmetic HKA (aHKA), were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) was used for clinical evaluation.ResultsThe mLDFA, MPTA, and aHKA showed no significant differences before and after surgery. Coronal HKA and PTS have significantly changed from 8.1 ± 8.7° and 9.9 ± 8.6° preoperatively to 3.5 ± 3.1° and 2.5 ± 2.0° postoperatively, respectively (p < 0.001 for each comparison). The postoperative WOMAC total score was significantly correlated with the KFA (r = 0.4063, p = 0.0034) and sagittal JLO (r = −0.3435, p = 0.0157). Postoperative KFA is a causal factor for the increased postoperative WOMAC total score (r = 1.416, 95% confidence interval: 0.491–2.342, p = 0.003).ConclusionrKA‐TKA using an anatomically designed implant can restore constitutional coronal lower limb alignment, while postoperative KFA and sagittal JLO were associated with poor PROMs. Care should be taken for the postoperative KFA because it is a risk factor for poor PROMs.Level of Evidence: Level III, case–control study.