TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT ALIGNMENT STUDY: PATIENT MATCHED INSTRUMENTATION VERSUS INTRAMEDULLARY JIGS

Eligible patients were randomly allocated to PMI or standard intramedullary jigs. Smith and Nephew9s patient specific cutting blocks (Visionaire) were used for PMI. Postoperative component positioning was investigated using the ‘Perth CT protocol’. Deviation of more than 3° from the recommended position was regarded as an outlier. Exact Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare component positioning and difference in proportion of outliers was calculated using Chi Squared analysis. Fifty-five knees were enrolled in the standard instrumentation group and fifty-two knees in the PMI group. Coronal femoral alignment was 0.7 ± 1.9° (standard) vs 0.5 ± 1.6° (PMI) (P=0.33). Outliers 9.4% vs 7.4% (P=0.71). Coronal tibial alignment was 0.4 ± 1.5° (standard) vs 0.6 ± 1.4° (PMI) (P=0.56). Outliers 1.9% vs 1.9% (P=0.99). Sagittal femoral alignment was 0.6 ± 1.5° (standard) vs 1.3 ± 1.9° (PMI) (P=0.07). Outliers 3.8% vs 13.2% (P=0.09). Tibial slope was 1.7 ± 1.9 ° (standard) vs 1.8 ± 2.7° (PMI) (P=0.88). Outliers 13.2% vs 24.1% (P=0.15). External rotation of femoral component was 0.6 ± 1.4° (standard) vs 0.2 ± 1.8° (PMI) (P=0.14). Outliers: 3.8% vs 5.6% (P=0.66). Compared to standard intramedullary jigs, patient matched instrumentation does not improve component positioning or reduce alignment outliers.