The Effect of Alignment and BMI on Failure of Total Knee Replacement

Abstract

Attaining neutrality in all three alignments is important in maximizing total knee implant survival. Substantial "correction" of the alignment of one component in order to compensate for malalignment of the other component and thus produce a neutrally aligned total knee replacement can increase the risk of failure (p = 0.0082). The use of conventional guides to align a total knee replacement provides acceptable alignment; however, the surgeon should be aware that the patient's size, as determined by the BMI, is also a major factor in total knee replacement failure.