The effect of component malalignment on the clinical and radiological outcome of the Kinemax total knee replacement

Component angles of 198 Kinemax total knee replacements were measured from standard short leg radiographs. An ideal tibio-femoral angle of between 4 and 10 degrees of valgus was achieved in 64.6% of patients. After an average follow-up of 6.5 years (range 4.5 to 9.5), there was no significant difference between knees in acceptable and suboptimal alignment in terms of pre- and post-operative knee and function scores and prevalence of radiolucent lines. Varus placement of the tibial component was significantly more common by trainee surgeons (P<0.001).