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Distal femoral cutting error of 2° impacts TKA flexion-extension gap
Researchers who conducted this study found that errors in distal femoral cutting during total knee arthroplasty had a significant effect on the flexion-extension gap differences they observed.
“Surgeons should recognize that a distal femoral cutting error has a significant effect on the flexion-extension gap difference in [total knee arthroplasty] TKA and pay particular attention to the alignment of the distal cutting surface,” Tadashi Tsukeoka, MD, PhD, of Chiba, Japan, and colleagues wrote.
The investigators used three TKA systems in their study: the Scorpio NRG PS (Stryker; Mahwah, N.J.), the NexGen LPS-Flex (Zimmer; Warsaw, Ind.) and the Vanguard PS (Biomet; Warsaw, Ind.). They included 15 Japanese patients scheduled for TKA in their analysis and performed lower limb CT scans on them. Tsukeoka and colleagues used the scans to create CT-based 3-D bone models of the patients’ knees using a computer simulation program (ZedKnee LEXI Co. Ltd.; Tokyo, Japan).
After the computer program performed simulated bone cutting errors at -2°, 2° and 4° of extension across all three TKA systems, the investigators noted that a distal femoral cutting error of 2° of flexion or extension caused a significant 2 mm difference in flexion-extension gaps with all three TKA systems.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.