Custom-made angled inserts for tibial coronal malalignment in total knee arthroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Prosthetics

Background:

• Tibial component malalignment is a frequent complication following knee arthroplasty.
• Malalignment often necessitates revision surgery, increasing healthcare costs and patient morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of angled inserts in correcting coronal plane deformities caused by tibial component malposition.
• To assess patient outcomes and satisfaction following the use of angled inserts for malalignment correction.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 9 patients who received angled inserts between 1993 and 2005 to correct tibial malalignment.
• Analysis of limb alignment, Knee Society knee and function scores, and revision rates at long-term follow-up.

Main Results:

• Limb alignment significantly improved postoperatively.
• Knee Society knee and function scores increased from an average of 68 and 71 to 92 and 91, respectively.
• All patients reported excellent satisfaction with no revisions required at an average of 5-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Specifically designed angled inserts can serve as a conservative option for correcting mild to moderate tibial malalignment in knee arthroplasty.
• This method demonstrates potential for improving functional outcomes and patient satisfaction while avoiding revision surgery.