Diaphyseal bowing may compromise axial alignment in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). 277 patients undergoing revision TKA were evaluated for coronal bowing and hip-knee-ankle (HKA) axis. The mean femoral bow was 1.52° ± 0.18° varus (-10.1° to +8.4°). The mean tibial bow was 1.25° ± 0.13° valgus (-5.9° to +10°). HKA axis averaged 3.08° ± 0.35° varus preoperatively compared to 0.86° ± 0.25° varus postoperatively. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability was high. Femoral bow greater than 4° significantly correlated with postoperative HKA axis malalignment (r = 0.402, P = 0.008). 39.7% of patients deviated 3° or greater from a neutral mechanical axis with a significant difference in femoral bow (0.94° ± 0.31°, P = 0.003). Diaphyseal bowing clearly has an important effect on postoperative limb alignment in revision TKA.
Keywords: axial alignment in revision total knee arthroplasty; coronal bowing; femoral bow; malalignment; revision total knee arthroplasty.
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