Optimal rotational alignment of the tibial component during Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

doi:10.12307/2025.808

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty effectively addresses medial knee osteoarthritis. The accurate tibial component rotational alignment is crucial to ensure the best surgical outcome.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of tibial component rotational alignment on short-term outcomes after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in medial knee osteoarthritis patients.
METHODS: From February 2021 to February 2023, 91 patients who underwent mobile‑bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were selected. According to the rotational alignment of tibial prosthesis relative to Akagi’s line measured by postoperative CT, the patients were divided into three groups. Group A had internal rotation greater than 0°, group B had external rotation from 0° to 5°, and group C had external rotation greater than 5°. The knee range of motion, Oxford knee score, and forgotten joint score were recorded and compared among three groups preoperatively, at the last follow-up after surgery.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At the last follow-up after surgery, the Oxford knee score of group B was significantly lower than that of group A (P=0.003) and group C (P=0.025). The knee range of motion of group B was higher than that of group A (P=0.011) and group C (P=0.024), and the forgotten joint score of group B was higher than that of group A (P=0.001) and group C (P=0.049). (2) The forgotten joint score in group C was significantly higher than that in group A at the last follow-up (P=0.044). (3) Patients were followed up for 12-36 months after arthroplasty. There were 2 and 7 cases of postoperative knee pain in groups B and C, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.033). (4) It is indicated that external rotation of the tibial prosthesis by 0°–5° is ideal for achieving satisfactory short-term clinical outcomes, so we should avoid intraoperative tibial prosthesis malrotation.

Key words: unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, knee osteoarthritis, tibial component rotational alignment, knee range of motion, clinical efficacy

CLC Number:

Liu Ning, Sun Yingjin, Huang Long, Feng Shuo, Chen Xiangyang. Optimal rotational alignment of the tibial component during Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2025, 29(33): 7158-7164.

Figures/Tables 6

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