Comprehensive Impact of Multiplanar Malalignment on Prosthetic Mechanics Under Gait Loading After Total Knee Arthroplasty—A Finite Element Analysis

TL;DR

This study uses a computer model to show how misalignment in different planes after knee replacement surgery affects stress on the implant during walking.

Contribution

The study is the first to comprehensively analyze the combined effects of multiplanar malalignment on prosthetic mechanics under gait loading using finite element analysis.

Findings

Coronal alignment has the greatest impact on stress in the tibial liner, followed by rotational alignment.

Sagittal alignment of the femoral component has the least influence on stress levels.

Maximum stress occurs with 5° varus, 5° flexion, and 5° internal rotation across the three planes.

Abstract

Component alignment is a key factor influencing clinical outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Previous studies have shown that single‐plane alignment can significantly affect knee joint kinematics and biomechanics. However, the comprehensive impact of multiplanar malalignment has been rarely investigated.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of the multiplanar malalignment combination on the polyethylene tibial liners under gait loading, a primary activity of daily life, as well as the degree of the influence of the alignments on the different planes.

A validated finite element model of a cruciate‐retaining knee prosthesis under gait loading was used in this study. Five alignment parameters (−5°, −3°, 0°, 3°, 5°) on each plane (coronal, sagittal, and transverse) were selected to simulate clinical alignment errors, resulting in 125 models combining various alignment errors across the three planes. Boundary and loading conditions were set according to ISO 14243‐3:2014. The maximum von Mises stress and contact stress during a gait cycle were recorded for statistical analysis. A polynomial model was used for regression analysis, with the degree of influence of each alignment error on von Mises and contact stress determined by examining the quadratic coefficients.

The highest Mises and contact stress values occurred with alignment errors of 5° varus, 5° flexion, and 5° internal rotation on the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes, respectively. The lowest stress values were observed with a combination of 3° valgus, 5° flexion, and 0° internal rotation. The regression analysis yielded an R
2 value of 0.69 between alignment errors and Mises stress, with quadratic coefficients of 0.096, 0.013, and 0.064 for the coronal, sagittal, and transverse alignments, respectively. For contact stress, the R
2 was 0.697, with quadratic coefficients of 0.083, 0.002, and 0.026 for the coronal, sagittal, and transverse alignments, respectively.

The coronal alignment of the lower limb has the most significant impact on both Mises stress and contact stress of the tibial liner, followed by the rotational alignment of the tibial component. In contrast, the sagittal alignment of the femoral component has the least influence.

The mechanics of tibial liners with various multiplanar malalignment combinations on the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes under gait loading were analyzed. Results indicated that coronal alignment of the lower limb had the most significant impact on both Mises stress and contact stress in the tibial liner, followed by the rotational alignment of the tibial component. In contrast, sagittal alignment of the femoral component had the least influence.

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