ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To identify the accuracy of postoperative implant alignment in minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty (MIS-TKA), based on the degree of varus deformity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research examined 627 cases of MIS-TKA from November 2005 to December 2007. The cases were categorized according to the preoperative degree of varus deformity in the knee joint in order to compare the postoperative alignment of the implant: less than 5degrees varus (Group 1, 351 cases), 5degrees to less than 10degrees varus (Group 2, 189 cases), 10degrees to less than 15degrees varus (Group 3, 59 cases), and 15degrees varus or more (Group 4, 28 cases). RESULTS: On average, the alignment of the tibial implant was 0.2+/-1.4degrees, 0.1+/-1.3degrees, 0.1+/-1.6degrees, and 0.3+/-1.7degrees varus, and the tibiofemoral alignment was 5.2+/-1.9degrees, 4.7+/-1.9degrees, 4.9+/-1.9degrees, and 5.1+/-2.0degrees valgus for Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, in the preoperative stage, indicating no difference between the groups (p>0.05). With respect to the accuracy of the tibial implant alignment, 98.1%, 97.6%, 87.5%, and 86.7% of Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, had 0+/-3degrees varus angulation, demonstrating a reduced level of accuracy in Groups 3 and 4 (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Satisfactory component alignment was achieved in minimally invasive surgery in total knee arthroplasty, regardless of the degree of varus deformity.