AUTHOR=Gong Tianlun , Wang Ruoyu , Gong Song , Han Lizhi , Yi Yihu , Wang Yuxiang , Xu Weihua TITLE=A Coronal Landmark for Tibial Component Positioning With Anatomical Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Radiological and Clinical Study JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.847987 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2022.847987 ISSN=2296-875X ABSTRACT=Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of the lateral point of articular surface of distal tibia (LADT) for anatomical alignment in total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

We reconstructed 148 three-dimensional pre-arthritic tibias and measured the tibial component inclination angle corresponding to the distal landmark of LADT. A retrospective study included 81 TKA recipients divided into the AA group and MA group. Clinical assessments including ROM, HSS, WOMAC, satisfaction for surgery, and radiological assessment were evaluated at one-year follow-up.

Results

The tibial component varus angle corresponding to the distal landmark of LADT in the male and female groups were 3.4 ± 0.3° (2.6~4.2°) and 3.2 ± 0.3° (2.3~4.0°), respectively (P <0.05). Using LADT as the distal landmark for extramedullary tibial cutting guidance, the medial proximal tibia angle (MPTA) of the AA group was 87.0±1.2° (85.0~90.0°), and the AA and MA technique showed no difference in improvement in postoperative knee functional recovery at final follow-up.

Conclusions

This study preliminarily indicated that LADT can be a reliable and economical landmark for coronal plane alignment of the tibial component.