The effect of surgeon experience on component positioning in 673 Press FitCondylar posterior cruciate-sacrificing total knee arthroplasties

Component angles of 673 Press Fit Condylar (PFC) total knee arthroplasties were measured from standard short-leg radiographs. The femoral and tibia] r esections were performed with intramedullary and extramedullary instrumenta tion. The mean coronal tibial component angle was 88.59 degrees (SD, 2.28 d egrees; range, 78-98 degrees), with 17.1% having values <87<degrees> and 1. 9% having values >93 degrees. The mean coronal femoral component angle was 97.43 degrees (SD, 3.44 degrees; range, 84-115 degrees), with 9.1% having v alues <94<degrees> and 13.1% having values >100 degrees. An ideal tibiofemo ral angle of 4 degrees to 10 degrees of valgus was achieved in 75.3% of pat ients, being <4<degrees> in 18.6% and >10 degrees in 6.1%. Alignment was no t significantly different between consultant and trainee surgeons. Although varus positioning of the tibial component was the commonest error, the wid e range of femoral component angles signifies problems with standard intram edullary femoral guides.