Objective To review the advance in the researchand clinical application of the tibial rotational alignment technique in the total knee arthroplasty in China and abroad. Methods The recent literature concerned with the tibial rotational alignment technique in the totalknee arthroplasty was extensively reviewed and briefly summarized. Results According to the literature reviewed, the traditional tibial rotational references for the total knee arthroplasty were affected by many factors, so that the references were not accurate enough. There have been no unified references.ConclusionChoosing the range from the medial border of the tibial tubercle to the medial 1/3 of the tibial tubercle, decided by the degrees of the varus deformities and the valgus deformities, to determine the rotaional alignment of the tibial component will create an optimal tibiofemoral rotational alignment.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of medial 1/3 anatomical orientation of the tibial tubercle on the rotational alignment of Gemini MK-Ⅱ tibial components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsBetween March 2011 and December 2012, 61 cases (67 knees) of varus knee osteoarthritis underwent Gemini MK-Ⅱ knee arthroplasty, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 49 females, with an average age of 67.6 years (range, 50-82 years). The body mass index ranged from 20.9 to 33.7 kg/m2 (mean, 28.2 kg/m2). Unilateral TKA was performed in 55 cases and bilateral TKA in 6 cases. The duration of knee osteoarthritis ranged from 2 to 30 years (mean, 12.1 years). According to radiographic changes, 56 knees were rated as Kellgren-Lawrence grade Ⅲ and 11 knees as grade IV. During TKA, the tibial rotational alignment was determined by medial 1/3 anatomical orientation of the tibial tubercle. The anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and CT scan were taken to measure the tibial rotational angle (TRA) at pre-and post-operation and to analyze the relative factors for TRA by Pearson correlation analysis. ResultsAll the patients were followed up 18-41 months (mean, 20.5 months). The range of motion (ROM) significantly increased from (98.806±16.969)° preoperatively to (116.806±11.458)° at last follow-up (t=-11.760, P=0.000). The knee society score (KSS) significantly increased from 111.239±20.344 to 160.522±17.872 at last follow-up (t=-27.271, P=0.000). The anatomical tibiofemoral angle (ATFA), posterior condylar angle (PCA), and TRA were all improved after TKA, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Rotational malalignment was observed in 11 knees (16.42%) before TKA, and in 14 knees (20.90%) at 1 week after TKA, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.443, P=0.506). There were 8 knees (11.94%) of internal rotation (>8°) and 6 knees (8.96%) of external rotation (>8°). The postoperative tibial prosthesis TRA had no correlation with the preoperative ATFA and tibial plateau TRA, the postoperative PCA and ATFA (r=-0.174, P=0.159; r=0.220, P=0.074; r=0.237, P=0.053; r=-0.095, P=0.442). ConclusionIn patients with varus knee osteoarthritis, medial 1/3 anatomical orientation of the tibial tubercle will contribute to the development of tibial rotational malalignment when TKA is performed by using Gemini MK-Ⅱ tibial components.