An autopsy study was done to determine the relationship of the tibial
plateau and the intramedullary canal of the tibia. Rods were placed in
10 adult anatomic specimen tibias. Computed axial tomography scans we
re obtained of the proximal tibia at 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm, and 2.5 cm fr
om the most proximal plateau, Based on these sections, the position of
the tibial canal was measured relative to the plateau. The center of
the tibial canal on the plateau varied from 28% to 53% of the depth of
the tibia from the anterior cortex and from 37% to 56% of the width o
f the tibia from the medial cortex. Actual measurements ranged from 15
mm anterior to the center to 1.5 mm posterior to the center and 8 mm
medial to the center to 4.5 mm lateral. Because of this variability in
location of the tibial canal, a mobile stem attachment site on the ti
bial tray or an offset stem may be beneficial for some patients having
total knee arthroplasty.