Influence of the Posterior Slope of the Tibial Component on the Maximal Flexion after Total Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effect of tibial cut with posterior slope in total knee arthroplasty(TKA) surgery on the flexion of the knee, 41 knees(32 patients) with varying degree of the posterior slope were retrospectively reviewed at more than 1 year after operation. Does sloping the tibial cut iurface rnore posteriorly promote increasing of maximal flexion of the knee by elimination of excessive tenaion of the posterior cruciate liga ment The degree of the posterior slope was radiographically measured, awi the change of the degree of the maximal flexion between preoperative and postoperative period was clinimlly measured with a goniometer at the latest follow up more than 1 year after operation. Comparison of the results demonstrated significantly larger degree of rqaximal flexion for the knees that had tibial cut with the degree of the posterior slope, 5 degrees or rnore (p<0.05). We concluded that 5 degrees or more posterior slope in proxirnal tibial cut is one of the important fact()r which could achieve increased flexion of the knee after TKA operation.