Mechanical alignment changes during flexion in total knee arthroplasty without affecting clinical outcomes

Background: Primary aim of this study is to investigate if Hip-Knee-Ankle angle, measured in the coronal plane, changes with knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty. The secondary aim is to assess the relationship between Hip-Knee-Ankle during knee flexion and clinical outcome at mid-term follow up. Methods: 334 computer assisted total knee arthroplasties were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 233 patients were available for assessment of clinical outcomes at last follow up (mean 35 months). Hip-Knee-Ankle angle at different degrees of knee flexion and components' alignment were recorded intraoperatively. Findings: Patients were stratified based on the preoperative alignment: 202 varus knees, 99 neutral knees, and 33 valgus knees. In the varus knee group, 146 patients (89%) maintained a neutral overall limb alignment when flexed to 20 degrees, 118 (72%) remained neutrally aligned at 45 degrees and 92 (54%) at 90 degrees. In valgus knee group, 26 (90%) remained neutrally aligned at 20 degrees, 22 (75%) at 45 degrees and 16 (55%) at 90 degrees. In neutrally-aligned knee group, 88 (96%) remained neutrally aligned at 20 degrees, 73 (79%) at 45 degrees and 61 (66%) at 90 degrees. Femoral component external rotation was correlated with varus alignment in flexion. Good outcomes were reported in 181 (78%) cases, fair results in 28 (12%) cases, poor results in 24 (10%) of cases. Poor results were not correlated to Hip-Knee-Ankle angle at different knee flexion angles. Interpretation: This study demonstrates that intraoperative Hip-Knee-Ankle angle changes as the knee moves into deeper flexion. However, neutral Hip-Knee-Ankle through the range of motion does not correlate with superior outcomes.