Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy
07:43

In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy

Published on: July 2, 2021

How accurate are orthopaedic surgeons in visually estimating lower limb alignment?

Gautam M Shetty1, Arun Mullaji, A Parameshwarappa Lingaraju

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, India. gautams10@gmail.com

Acta Orthopaedica Belgica
|December 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Orthopaedic surgeons

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty in patients with 15 or more degrees of varus deformity: age- and gender-matched comparative study of radiographic and clinical outcomes.

Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery·2026
Same author

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study Comparing Varus Arthritic to Normal Knees Indicates that the Medial Collateral Ligament Does Not Contract in up to 15° of Varus Deformity, Whereas the Lateral Collateral Ligament May Elongate.

The Journal of arthroplasty·2026
Same author

Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty for the Indian Patient: An Unmet Clinical Need for Redesigning Implants Based on Caucasian Morphometry.

Indian journal of orthopaedics·2025
Same author

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery: A finite element analysis of open and minimally invasive approach on L4-L5 segment.

Heliyon·2025
Same author

Mechanical Failure of SIGMA Total Condylar-III Revision Total Knee System Modular Femoral Component Due to Bolt Screw Breakage - Our Experience in Overcoming Broken Component Incarceration.

Journal of orthopaedic case reports·2024
Same author

Primary Total Knee Replacement using Rotating Hinge Implants in Poliomyelitis: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Journal of orthopaedic case reports·2024

Area of Science:

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Surgical Navigation
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Accurate limb alignment is crucial for successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
  • Visual estimation is traditionally used to assess knee alignment during surgery.
  • The reliability of visual estimation compared to computer navigation needs evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the accuracy and reliability of orthopaedic surgeons' visual estimation of knee alignment.
  • To compare surgeons' visual estimations with precise measurements from a computer navigation system.

Main Methods:

  • Orthopaedic surgeons at a national conference visually positioned a synthetic bone model in various knee flexion and coronal plane angles.
  • A computer navigation system simultaneously recorded and quantified these positions.
  • Surgeons' estimations were analyzed for deviations from target positions.

Main Results:

  • Significant deviations from target knee alignment were observed in both sagittal (flexion) and coronal (varus/valgus) planes.
  • In the sagittal plane, 44-60% of surgeons deviated by >5 degrees depending on flexion angle.
  • In the coronal plane, 8-15% deviated by >5 degrees.
  • Only 25% achieved alignment within 3 degrees (coronal) and 5 degrees (sagittal) of neutral.
  • Accuracy did not correlate with surgeon experience or prior use of computer-assisted TKA.

Conclusions:

  • Visual estimation of knee alignment by orthopaedic surgeons is prone to significant errors.
  • Inaccurate alignment can result from relying solely on visual estimation during procedures like TKA.
  • Computer navigation systems offer a more precise method for assessing limb alignment in knee surgery.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy
07:43

In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy

Published on: July 2, 2021