Coronal knee alignment measurements differ on long-standing radiographs vs. by navigation

Florian Barbotte, Marc Delord, Nicolas Pujol

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The long-standing radiograph (LSR) is the reference tool for assessing knee alignment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, its value is debatable, as many factors can influence measurement accuracy. Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) provides accurate measurements. Few studies have compared LSR and computer-assisted measurements of knee alignment. The objective of this study was to compare hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle values obtained before and after TKA on LSRs to those obtained during CAS.

HYPOTHESIS: The HKA angle values measured on LSRs before and after surgery are identical to those measured during CAS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The HKA angles of 126 knees were measured on bipedal full-weight-bearing LSRs obtained before and 3 months after TKA. The results were compared to the values obtained during CAS.

RESULTS: Before surgery, the standard deviation was 2.672, with limits of agreement of {-5.391; + 5.082}. The intra-class coefficients were good for the overall measurements (0.9), good for detecting>10° varus (0.89), fair for<10° varus and valgus (0.66 and 0.71, respectively), poor for>10° valgus (0.43) and poor for normal alignment (0). Post-operatively, the standard deviation was 3.113, with limits of agreement of {-6.426; +5.776}. The intra-class coefficient was poor for the overall measurements (0.20), negative for normal alignment (-0.05) and<10° valgus (-0.05), and positive for<10° varus (0.017) and for>10° varus and valgus (0.33).

CONCLUSION: Before TKA, the LSR overestimates the deformity compared to CAS. After surgery, the two methods are not comparable. These findings underline the relevance of routinely obtaining LSRs and for using LSR results to estimate costs for healthcare insurance reimbursement purposes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective observational cohort study.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103112
Pages (from-to)103112
JournalOrthopaedics & traumatology, surgery & research : OTSR
Volume108
Issue number5
Early online date22 Aug 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

Keywords

  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint/diagnostic imaging
  • Lower Extremity/surgery
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Coronal knee alignment measurements differ on long-standing radiographs vs. by navigation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this