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The influence of the tibial slope on intra-operative soft tissue balance in cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty

  • Knee
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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to make clear the influence of the tibial slope on intra-operative soft tissue balance measurements using a tensor in cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

Forty patients with osteoarthritis of the knee received TKAs (20 cruciate-retaining TKAs and 20 posterior-stabilized TKA). Soft tissue balance was measured using an offset type tensor at 0, 10, 45, 90, 135 degrees of knee flexion. The tibial slopes were measured by post-operative lateral radiograph. The correlation between the tibial slope and values of soft tissue balance were assessed.

Results

Joint component gap at 90° (R = 0.537, p < 0.01) and 135° (R = 0.463, p < 0.05) of flexion and joint component gap change value of 90–0° (R = 0.433, p < 0.05) showed positive correlations with tibial slope in posterior-stabilized TKA. There was no relationship between the tibial slope and the value of soft tissue balances in cruciate-retaining TKA.

Conclusions

In the present study, we confirmed that increasing the tibial slope resulted in a larger flexion gap compared to extension gap in posterior-stabilized TKA. Surgeons should be aware that increasing the tibial slope is one factor responsible for widening the flexion–extension gap difference in posterior-stabilized TKA.

Level of evidence

III.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan

    Shinya Oka, Tomoyuki Matsumoto, Seiji Kubo, Takehiko Matsushita, Kazunari Ishida, Ryosuke Kuroda & Masahiro Kurosaka

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Steel Memorial Hirohata Hospital, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan

    Hirotsugu Muratsu

Authors
  1. Shinya Oka
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  2. Tomoyuki Matsumoto
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  3. Hirotsugu Muratsu
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  4. Seiji Kubo
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  5. Takehiko Matsushita
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  7. Ryosuke Kuroda
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  8. Masahiro Kurosaka
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Correspondence to Tomoyuki Matsumoto.

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Oka, S., Matsumoto, T., Muratsu, H. et al. The influence of the tibial slope on intra-operative soft tissue balance in cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22, 1812–1818 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2535-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2535-7

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