Rotational alignment errors can occur in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty if anatomical landmarks are misused: A preoperative CT scan analysis.

BACKGROUND

Accurate implant positioning, including rotation, is essential for successful unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). This study defined the rotational error that would result in medial UKA when using the medial edge of the tibial tubercle (TT) rather than the medial tibial spine for determining tibial component rotation, and in lateral UKA when aligning the anterior edge of the sagittal tibial cut with the lateral edge of the patellar tendon.

METHODS

Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed in 88 knees undergoing medial (n = 71) and lateral (n = 17) UKAs. In medial UKA, the angle between a line along the long axis of the medial tibial spine and a line drawn to the medial edge of the TT was measured. In lateral UKA, the angular relationship between the longitudinal axis of the lateral tibial spine and the lateral edge of the patellar tendon was measured.

RESULTS

In medial UKA, an average angular error of 9.6° of external rotation could result if the medial edge of the TT is used to set tibial implant rotation. In lateral UKA, the error of the sagittal tibial cut was an average of 7.1° of excessive external rotation if it is referenced on the lateral edge of the patellar tendon.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative CT scan analysis showed that using the medial edge of the TT and lateral edge of the patellar tendon to set tibial implant rotation may result in excessive external rotation in medial and lateral UKAs, which could result in kinematic mismatch, suboptimal contact areas and rotational malalignment.