Femoral rotation in ligament balanced knee arthroplasty: a prospective clinical study

Rotational alignment of the femoral component is an important factor to achieve beneficial results in total knee arthroplasty. Femoral rotation pre versus post surgery was prospectively assessed in 40 patients who underwent ligament balanced knee arthroplasty. Computerized tomography of the knee was performed before and after the surgery to determine the femoral rotation. In 36 out of 40 patients the rotation of the femoral implants differed compared to the preoperative femur (P > 0.001). After surgery the rotational alignment of the femoral component ranged from -3° (internal rotation) to 7° (external rotation). Increased external rotation was found in 33 out of 40 patients ranging from 1° to 7°. These results highlight the importance of individually determined femoral rotation in ligament balanced knee arthroplasty.