A transepicondylar axis is a useful reference for femoral component rotation and is demonstrated as a functional flexion-extension axis of a knee. Conversely, a rotational orientation of the tibial component was less clearly demonstrated and many anatomical landmarks were proposed. It has been reported that Asian people had more medial torsion of the tibia particularly with an osteoarthritic knee. The present study aims to address the relationship between the torsion variation of the tibia and the rotational axis of the tibia.
Forty knees of 32 women (mean age of 73.3) with varus osteoarthritis underwent a preoperative CT images to identify a surgical epicondylar axis, an axis perpendicular to this line (femoral reference line), lines connecting between the PCL insertion and 3 reference point on the patellar tendon, an AP axis of the ankle and a tibial torsion angle.
The mean value of the angle between the line connecting the PCL insertion and 3 different point of the patellar tendon including the medial border medial one-third and middle of the patellar tendon and the femoral reference line was -4.22, +4.37 and +8.47 degree, respectively. The mean of a tibial torsion angle was +16.51 degree. There were 6 cases having the femoral reference line rotated internally to the medial border of the patellar tendon and having less torsion angle (medial tibial torsion) with a mean of +13.78 degree.
The femoral reference line in the Thai osteoarthritic knee is passed between medial edge of patellar tendon and medial 1/3 of patellar tendon. This line rotates more internally compared with the patellar tendon if the degree of medial tibial torsion is more severe. An excessive externally rotated tibial component when using the patellar tendon as guidance should be avoided in the knee presenting with medial tibial torsion.