The Accuracy of Alignment Determined by Patient-Specific Instrumentation System in Total Knee Arthroplasty

The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of alignment determined by patient-specific instrumentation system in total knee arthroplasty(TKA).

Twenty-seven TKAs using patient-specific instrument were reviewed. The intraoperative pin location determined by the patient-specific guide was recorded using imageless navigation software. Data recorded included tibial coronal alignment and posterior slope, femoral coronal alignment and sagittal alignment, and transepicondylar axis. A discrepancy within ±3° in each plane was considered an acceptable result.

On the tibia, an acceptable alignment was obtained in 24 (88.1%) in the coronal plane and 21 (77.8%) in the sagittal plane. On the femur, a satisfactory alignment was obtained in 25 (92.6%) in the coronal plane and 24 (88.1%) in the sagittal plane. Based on the transepicondylar axis, a satisfactory alignment was obtained in 23 (85.1%).

Satisfactory alignment was obtained in more than 85% of each plane of the femur and in the coronal plane of the tibia and relative to the transepicondylar axis. Sufficeint experience and precise preoperative planning are required to improve the accuracy of sagittal alignment of the tibia.