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

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the surgeons who contributed cases to these trials, Mr. Nigel Brewster, Mr. Jim Holland and Professor Andrew McCaskie and the research staff, Karen Bettinson, Lorna Kirk and Stephanie Outterside who collected all of the clinical data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK

    Ajay Malviya, E. A. Lingard, D. J. Weir & D. J. Deehan

  2. 81 Daylesford Drive, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1TW, UK

    Ajay Malviya

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  1. Ajay Malviya
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  2. E. A. Lingard
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Correspondence to Ajay Malviya.

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Malviya, A., Lingard, E.A., Weir, D.J. et al. Predicting range of movement after knee replacement: the importance of posterior condylar offset and tibial slope. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17, 491–498 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-008-0712-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-008-0712-x

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