Microstructural adaptations of the subchondral bone are related to the mechanical axis deviation in end stage varus oa knees.

Recent studies highlighted the crucial contribution of subchondral bone to OA development. Yet, only limited data have been reported on the relation between alteration to cartilage morphology, structural properties of the subchondral bone plate (SBP) and underlying subchondral trabecular bone (STB). Furthermore, the relationship between the morphometry of the cartilage and bone in the tibial plateau and the OA-induced changes in the joint's mechanical axis remains unexplored. Therefore, a visualisation and quantification of cartilage and subchondral bone microstructure in the medial tibial plateau was performed. End stage knee-OA patients with varus alignment and scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) underwent preoperative fulllength radiography to measure the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and the mechanical-axis deviation (MAD). 18 tibial plateaux were µ-CT scanned (20.1 µm/voxel). Cartilage thickness, SBP, and STB microarchitecture were quantified in 10 volumes of interest (VOIs) in each medial tibial plateau. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found for cartilage thickness, SBP, and STB microarchitecture parameters among the VOIs. Closer to the mechanical axis, cartilage thickness was consistently smaller, while SBP thickness and STB bone volume fraction (BV/TV) were higher. Moreover, trabeculae were also more superior-inferiorly oriented, i.e. perpendicular to the transverse plane of the tibial plateau. As cartilage and subchondral bone changes reflect responses to local mechanical loading patterns in the joint, the results suggested that region-specific subchondral bone adaptations were related to the degree of varus deformity. More specifically, subchondral sclerosis appeared to be most pronounced closer to the mechanical axis of the knee.

The adductor ratio: a new tool for joint line reconstruction in revision TKA.

PURPOSE: In this study, the value of the adductor tubercle as landmark for joint line reconstruction in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was investigated. METHODS: On 100 calibrated full-leg standing radiographs obtained from healthy volunteers, distances from the medial epicondyle, the lateral epicondyle, the adductor tubercle, the fibular head and the centre of the knee to the joint line were determined. RESULTS: The average distance to the joint line from the medial epicondyle, the lateral epicondyle, the adductor tubercle and the fibular head was found to be 27.7 mm (SD 3.0), 27.1 mm (SD 2.7), 44.6 mm (SD 4.3) and 15.1 mm (SD 3.7), respectively. The distance from the adductor tubercle (R = 0.82) and the centre of the knee (R = 0.86) to the joint line showed a strong and linear correlation with the femoral width. The medial epicondyle, the lateral epicondyle and the fibular head showed less strong correlations. There was no significant correlation with the limb alignment. The adductor ratio was defined as the distance from adductor tubercle to the joint line divided by the femoral width and was found to be 0.52 (SD 0.027) with only small inter-individual variation. The adductor ratio was the most accurate ratio and reconstructed the joint line within 4 mm of its original level in 92% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The adductor ratio is a reliable and accurate tool for joint line reconstruction in revision TKA. It was found to be more accurate then the use of absolute distances and the epicondylar ratios. This study supports the use of the adductor tubercle for joint line reconstruction in revision TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.