Effect of Total Knee Arthroplasty on Coronal Alignment of the Ankle Joint

Background: The effect of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on the ankle joint is not entirely clear. The purpose of this study is to assess postoperative changes in the coronal alignment of the ankle joint in patients undergoing TKA for various degrees of knee deformity. Methods: This retrospective study included 107 patients who had undergone TKA for primary osteoarthritis. In all cases, preoperative coronal alignment deformity of the knee was corrected in an attempt to restore the native mechanical axis of the knee. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to the degree of knee coronal alignment correction achieved intraoperatively: group 1 (<10 degrees varus/valgus correction, n = 60), group 2 (>= 10 degrees varus correction, n = 30), and group 3 (>= 10 degrees valgus correction, n = 17). Knee/ankle alignment angles were measured on full-length, standing anteroposterior imaging preoperatively and postoperatively and included the following: hip-knee-ankle angle, tibial plafond inclination (TPI), talar inclination (TI), and tibiotalar tilt angle. Results: Significant changes in ankle alignment, specifically with regard to TPI (9.5 degrees +/- 6.9 degrees, P < .01) and TI (8.8 degrees +/- 8.8 degrees, P = .03) were noted in the >= 10 degrees valgus correction group compared to the other 2 groups. Regardless of the degree of knee deformity correction, TKA did not lead to significant changes in the tibiotalar tilt angle. Conclusion: A correction of >= 10 degrees in a genu valgum deformity can affect ankle joint alignment, leading to alterations in TPI and TI. These findings need to be taken into consideration in assessing candidates for TKA as a possible cause of postoperative ankle pain. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate postoperative changes in the coronal alignment of the ankle joint in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for different degrees of knee deformity. The study found that there were significant changes in ankle alignment in the group with a valgus correction of 10 degrees or more. However, regardless of the degree of knee deformity correction, TKA did not result in significant changes in the tibiotalar tilt angle. These findings have important implications for assessing candidates for TKA and considering potential causes of postoperative ankle pain.