Is TKA Wear Related to Laxity and Surgical Alignment

Soft tissue balancing during Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a step every surgeon takes during surgery. Coronal and transverse plane mechanical alignment is another parameter that surgeons address during surgery in an attempt to decrease wear and increase longevity. To date, a correlation between laxity, component wear patterns, and alignment of the tibial and femoral implant components has not been established. Theoretically, suboptimal alignment and poor soft tissue balancing should increase polyethylene wear and decrease implant survivorship, contributing to implant loosening and costly revision surgeries. This study utilizes a retrieval program of functioning TKAs obtained at the time of necropsy. By utilizing CT scans, mechanical laxity testing, and polyethylene damage scores, we aimed to determine if any correlation between proper alignment and ligament balancing to polyethylene damage scores exists.Methods:Computed Tomography (CT) scans were performed on 17 cadaveric knees containing TKAs obtained...