Residual varus alignment after posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty limits medial soft tissue remodeling

Abstract

Background: Proper lower limb alignment and soft tissue balance are significant indicators to measure the success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Previous studies have confirmed that soft tissue relaxation around the knee after TKA will change over time; however, the relationship between lower limb alignment and soft tissue balance after TKA remains unclear. We studied (1) whether the change of soft tissue balance around the knee with time after posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA would affect the alignment of the lower limbs; (2) Whether the accuracy of lower limb alignment during PS TKA affects postoperative soft tissue remodeling.

Methods: In this study, 100 patients were recruited after PS TKA. Among them, 50 patients with a hip knee ankle (HKA) angle of ≤ ± 3° were set as the neutral group, and 50 patients with an HKA angle of > ± 3° were set as the deviation group. The imaging results measured the HKA angle before the operation as well as the HKA, varus, and valgus angles at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TKA. Clinical assessment included range of motion (ROM), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Knee Society Score (KSS).

Results: Eight people were excluded from the study. After the exclusion, the study enrolled 47 patients in the neutral group and 45 patients in the deviant group and were followed for up to 2 years. There was no statistical significance in mean varus angles as well as HKA angle changes during the follow-up phase of each groups (P > 0.05). The mean valgus angles of the patients in the neutral group group were 2.47°, 3.45°, 3.63°, 3.60° and 3.63°, and in the deviation group were 2.45° (P = 0.841), 2.88° (P < 0.001), 3.07° (P < 0.001), 3.06° (P < 0.001), and 3.10° (P < 0.001). ROM, WOMAC and KSS of the two groups were significantly improved after operation, with no difference between the two groups.

Conclusion: This study shows that whether the alignment is accurate or not in the early stage after TKA, the relaxation of the medial and lateral soft tissues of the knee joint change; however, this change will not significantly affect the alignment of the lower limbs. Postoperative residual varus deformity limits medial soft tissue remodeling.

Level of evidence: III.

Keywords: Lower limb alignment; Total knee arthroplasty (TKA); Varus knee; Varus–valgus laxity.