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The Value of Valgus Stress Radiographs in the Workup for Medial Unicompartmental Arthritis

  • Clinical Research
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

A CORR Insights® to this article was published on 28 August 2013

Abstract

Background

High tibial osteotomy and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty are surgical treatment options for unicompartmental knee arthritis; these procedures are indicated for patients who do not have severe arthritis in the lateral compartment. Valgus stress radiographs sometimes are used to make this evaluation, but this test has not been critically evaluated.

Questions/purposes

We sought to determine (1) whether valgus stress radiographs help to evaluate the integrity of the cartilage in the lateral compartment in patients undergoing TKA for noninflammatory arthritis, and (2) whether valgus stress radiographs can identify patients whose varus deformity is correctable.

Methods

We reviewed preoperative hip-to-ankle standing radiographs, AP standing radiographs, and valgus stress radiographs of 84 patients (91 knees) who underwent TKA for varus knee arthritis between July 2010 and January 2012. Valgus stress radiographs were obtained with the patient supine with the knee 20° flexed and a firm manual valgus force was applied through the knee. On valgus stress radiographs, the lateral compartment joint space width and the corrected mechanical alignment were measured. Intraoperative cartilage assessment (Outerbridge grade) was compared with lateral compartment joint space width. Knees with mechanical leg alignment of 3° varus to 3° valgus on valgus stress radiographs were considered correctable deformities.

Results

The lateral compartment joint space width on valgus stress radiographs did not correlate with the intraoperative Outerbridge grading of the lateral compartment cartilage (rs = −0.154; p = 0.146). The majority of knees (93%; 55 of 59) with 10° or less mechanical varus on hip-to-ankle standing radiographs were correctable within the range of 3° varus to 3° valgus.

Conclusions

Valgus stress radiographs provided no added benefit to the radiographic assessment of the lateral compartment cartilage and regarding the correctability of the varus deformity.

Level of Evidence

Level III, diagnostic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Michelle Perna BS and Danielle Perkins PA-C for assistance with the data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adult Reconstruction & Joint Replacement Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Wenzel Waldstein MD, Jad Bou Monsef MD, Johannes Buckup MD & Friedrich Boettner MD

Authors
  1. Wenzel Waldstein MD
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  2. Jad Bou Monsef MD
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  3. Johannes Buckup MD
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  4. Friedrich Boettner MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Friedrich Boettner MD.

Additional information

The institution of the authors has received, during the study period, funding from Smith & Nephew, Inc (Memphis, TN, USA).

All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

Each author certifies that his institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Waldstein, W., Monsef, J.B., Buckup, J. et al. The Value of Valgus Stress Radiographs in the Workup for Medial Unicompartmental Arthritis. Clin Orthop Relat Res 471, 3998–4003 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-3212-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-3212-3

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