title: Stiffness after total knee arthroplasty: does component alignment differ in knees requiring manipulation? A retrospective cohort study of 281 patients.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate component alignment in a large cohort of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and ascertain whether alignment in TKAs undergoing postoperative manipulation under anesthetic is significantly different from those achieving good function. A retrospective review of 281 consecutive primary TKAs was performed. All TKAs underwent computed tomographic scanning (Perth computed tomography knee protocol). Of 281 TKAs, 21 (7.4%) underwent manipulation, performed at a mean of 8.1 weeks (range, 3-14 weeks) after surgery. No statistically significant difference was seen between groups for any of 12 parameters of alignment. Postoperative stiffness with the need for manipulation under anesthetic is multifactorial in origin. This study found insufficient evidence to support the theory that component alignment contributes significantly to the etiology of this difficult problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Elective Orthopaedics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harvie
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaddan
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Longstaff
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beaver
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular