Unlocking the scientific and clinical value of knee phenotyping beyond knee arthroplasty

Coronal plane alignment plays a critical role in knee biomechanics across all ages, influencing joint loading, ligament tension, and long-term joint preservation. While individual knee phenotypes have transformed alignment paradigms in knee arthroplasty, their broader relevance in general orthopedics and pediatric surgery remains underexplored. This editorial examines the underutilization of these phenotypic frameworks outside arthroplasty, highlights their potential for guiding trauma reduction, deformity correction, and ligament reconstruction, and proposes their integration into pediatric growth modulation and osteotomy planning. By adopting these classification systems into everyday orthopedic decision-making, surgeons can improve alignment restoration, reduce secondary joint degeneration, and personalize treatment for both adult and pediatric populations.