Influence of intra-operative parameters on postoperative early recovery of active knee flexion in posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty

Purpose

Active knee flexion is more important for daily activities than passive knee flexion. The hypothesis is that the intra-operative parameters such as osteotomized bone thickness and soft tissue balance affect the postoperative active flexion angle in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Therefore, we evaluate the influence of intra-operative parameters on postoperative early recovery of active flexion after posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA.

Methods

The subjects were 45 osteoarthritic knees undergoing primary PS TKA with anterior-reference technique. Intra-operative soft tissue balance was measured using an offset type tensor, and each osteotomized bone thickness was also measured. Pre- and postoperative active knee flexion angles were measured using lateral radiographs. Liner regression analysis was used to determine the influence of these intra-operative parameters on postoperative active flexion angles or recovery of active flexion angles.

Results

Pre-operative flexion angle was positively correlated with postoperative flexion angle (R?=?0.52, P?=?0.0002). Postoperative flexion angle was negatively correlated with the osteotomized bone thickness of femoral medial posterior condyle (R?=??0.37, P?=?0.012), and femoral lateral posterior condyle (R?=??0.36, P?=?0.015). Recovery of flexion angle was slightly negatively correlated with gap difference calculated by subtracting joint gap at extension from that at flexion between osteotomized surfaces (R?=??0.30, P?=?0.046).

Conclusions

The osteotomized bone thickness of the femoral posterior condyle is a significant independent factor of postoperative flexion angles. This indicates that the restoration of the posterior condyle offset may lead to larger postoperative active flexion angles in PS TKA.