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Updated: Sep 2, 2025
Three-Dimensional Preoperative Virtual Planning in Derotational Proximal Femoral Osteotomy
Published on: February 17, 2023
Failure modes in malrotated total knee replacement
Ashok Rajgopal1, Paneendra Sudarshan2, Sumit Kumar2
1Institute of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Orthopaedics, Medanta - The Medicity, Sector 38, Gurugram, 122002, Haryana, India. a_rajgopal@hotmail.com.
Purpose:
Achieving normal rotational alignment of both components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is essential for improved knee survivorship and function. However, malrotation is a known complication resulting in higher revision rates. Understanding malrotation of the components and its concomitant clinical and functional outcomes are important for early diagnosis and management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of malrotation on clinical outcomes and failure modes in both single and combined rotational malalignment.
Methods:
From our hospital database of 364 revisions, a cohort of 76 knees with patellar maltracking, stiffness, reduced range of motion and early aseptic failure were reviewed and investigated for component malrotation using computed tomography following Berger protocol. CT findings confirmed component malrotation in 70 of these patients. Investigations included (1) measurement of femoral component malrotation using surgical transepicondylar axis, (2) measurement of tibial component malrotation using anteroposterior axis and (3) measurement of combined component rotational errors.
Results:
The correlation of CT analysis and clinical outcomes after primary TKA revealed association of patellar maltracking with femoral internal rotation, pain and instability with tibial internal rotation and knee stiffness in patients with combined component malrotation as the commonest mode of presentation. Our study showed that patients with isolated femoral, tibial and combined malrotation presented at a mean period of 3.4 ± 1.34, 1.7 ± 0.8 and 2.3 ± 0.69 years, respectively, after the index surgery. Post-revision, the mean Knee Society Score and Oxford Knee Score improved from 29.1 to 78.7, and 10.5 to 32.8, respectively, and the mean range of motion improved from 74.9 ± 24.8 to 97.1 ± 12.7 degrees at a mean follow-up of 42 months.
Conclusion:
Early detection of malrotation in TKA and its management with revision of both components can lead to better clinical and functional outcomes.
Level Of Evidence:
III.
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