A comparison of variable angle versus fixed angle distal femoral resection in primary total knee arthroplasty

This study assessed whether using a variable distal valgus resection angle improved post-operative coronal lower limb alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Two groups were compared: Fixed (n = 124), where a fixed distal valgus resection angle of 7° was used; Variable (n = 87), where the resection angle was adjusted to the measured femoral mechanical anatomical (FMA) angle of the patient. FMA and mechanical femoro-tibial (MFT) angles were measured on pre-operative and post-operative hip-knee-ankle radiographs. 85% of patients in the Variable group had a post-operative MFT angle within 0° ± 3°compared to 69% in the Fixed group (P = 0.006). The use of a fixed distal femoral resection angle for all patients is not appropriate. Setting the resection to an individual patient's FMA angle can significantly improve the post-operative MFT angle.