The position and orientation of total knee replacement components: a comparison of conventional radiographs, transverse 2D-CT slices and 3D-CT reconstruction

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2011 May;93(5):629-33. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.93B5.25893.

Abstract

We studied the intra- and interobserver reliability of measurements of the position of the components after total knee replacement (TKR) using a combination of radiographs and axial two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed CT images to identify which method is best for this purpose. A total of 30 knees after primary TKR were assessed by two independent observers (an orthopaedic surgeon and a radiologist) using radiographs and CT scans. Plain radiographs were highly reliable at measuring the tibial slope, but showed wide variability for all other measurements; 2D-CT also showed wide variability. 3D-CT was highly reliable, even when measuring rotation of the femoral components, and significantly better than 2D-CT. Interobserver variability in the measurements on radiographs were good (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.65 to 0.82), but rotational measurements on 2D-CT were poor (ICC 0.29). On 3D-CT they were near perfect (ICC 0.89 to 0.99), and significantly more reliable than 2D-CT (p < 0.001). 3D-reconstructed images are sufficiently reliable to enable reporting of the position and orientation of the components. Rotational measurements in particular should be performed on 3D-reconstructed CT images. When faced with a poorly functioning TKR with concerns over component positioning, we recommend 3D-CT as the investigation of choice.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Knee Joint / pathology
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Knee Prosthesis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Orientation
  • Postoperative Care / methods
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods