Predicting range of movement after knee replacement: the importance of posterior condylar offset and tibial slope

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2009 May;17(5):491-8. doi: 10.1007/s00167-008-0712-x. Epub 2009 Jan 13.

Abstract

We have attempted to quantify the influence of clinical, radiological and prosthetic design factors upon flexion following knee replacement. Our study examined the outcome following 101 knee replacements performed in two prospective randomized trials using similar cruciate retaining implants. Multivariate analyses, after adjusting for age, sex, diagnosis and the type of prosthesis revealed that the only significant correlates for range of movement at 12 months were the difference in posterior condylar offset ratio (p < 0.001), tibial slope (p < 0.001) and preoperative range of movement (p = 0.025). We found a moderate correlation between 12-month range of movement and posterior tibial slope (R = 0.58) and the difference of post femoral condylar offset (i.e, post-operative minus preoperative posterior condylar offset, R = 0.65). Posterior condylar offset had the greatest impact upon final range of movement highlighting this as an important consideration for the operating surgeon at pre-operative templating when choosing both the design and size of the femoral component.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / surgery
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / instrumentation
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / methods*
  • Female
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Femur / surgery
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology*
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Knee Prosthesis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / surgery
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Radiography
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Range of Motion, Articular*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Tibia / diagnostic imaging
  • Tibia / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome