The Discrepancy between Eipcondylar and Posterior Condylar Axis of Femur in Total Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to measure the angle between the femoral epicondylar axis and the femoral posterior condylar axis, to clarify which axis can be used as a guideline to achieve proper rotational align- ment of femoral component in total knee arthroplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From Jan. 1997 to Dec. 1998, the axial images of MRI of 121 patients who sustained acute knee injury were selected to measure the posterior-epicondylar angle(the angle between the femoral epicondylar axis and the femoral posterior condylar axis). Congenital anomaly or any fracture cases were all excluded. Comparisons were made according to gender and ages and the student t-test was used to evaluate the statistical differences. RESULTS: The mean posterior-epicondylar angle was a 4.8(+- 2.0) and there was no significant statisti- cal difference between gender and ages except 3rd decade. CONCLUSION: It can induce an insufficient external rotation of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty, if we usually do 3 of external rotation of femoral component from the posterior condylar axis.