Radiologic analysis of the tibial intramedullary canal in Chinese varus knees: implications in total knee arthroplasty.
Seventy-two lower limb long radiographs were reviewed with respect to mechanical and anatomic axes. A template of an intramedullary tibial guide rod was employed to determine the accuracy of the intramedullary guide in producing ideal tibial cuts (ie, 90 degrees ) and acceptable tibial cuts (ie, 90 degrees +/- 2 degrees ). The mean difference of the angle formed by the 2 axes was 1.84 degrees +/- 1.42 degrees. In our findings, 22.2% of patients would have unacceptable cuts if an intramedullary device were employed for the tibial cut during a total knee arthroplasty. A radiograph showing the whole tibia is required preoperatively to identify varus tibiae that are not suitable for the intramedullary method.
Ko
P S
PS
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, PRC.
Tio
M K
MK
Ban
C M
CM
Mak
Y K
YK
Ip
F K
FK
Lam
J J
JJ
D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome