The correction of knee alignment in 225 consecutive total condylar knee replacements

Two hundred twenty-five consecutive total knee replacements were reviewed radiographically to determine final alignment of the leg and accuracy of component placement. Of the 126 knees that were in varus preoperatively, only one knee was found to be in varus after knee replacement. Eighty-nine percent of the knees were found to be in 7 degrees +/- 5 degrees of valgus postoperation, while 7 degrees were in greater than 12 degrees valgus, 4 percent were in neutral position. Severe instability in the mediolateral plane was noted preoperatively in 62 knees in this series. Correction of more than 15 percent of deformity was necessary in 34 varus knee and 15 valgus knees. However, there has been no failure in the series attributable to instability in the mediolateral plane. Anteroposterior stability is controlled by the prosthesis design.