title: Extramedullary or intramedullary tibial alignment guides: a randomised, prospective trial of radiological alignment.
abstract: We undertook a prospective, randomised study of 135 total knee arthroplasties to determine the most accurate and reliable technique for alignment of the tibial prosthesis. Tibial resection was guided by either intramedullary or extramedullary alignment jigs. Of the 135 knees, standardised postoperative radiographs suitable for assessment were available in 100. Correct tibial alignment was found in 85% of the intramedullary group compared with 65% of the extramedullary group (p = 0.019). We conclude that intramedullary guides are superior to extramedullary instruments for alignment of the tibial prosthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington, England, UK.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bliss
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Emmerson
authors.forename: S M G
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Partington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome