BACKGROUNDSevere valgus deformity often has bone defect and laxity of the medial ligamentous, and total knee arthroplasty in severe valgus knee is, in most cases, more challenging for surgeons. The usefulness of a computer assisted navigation system in reestablishing the mechanical axis has been well established. Hence, the interest for surgeons is how the navigation system makes the procedure of total knee arthroplasty with severe valgus knee easier.

METHODSFrom June 2006 to March 2008 in Department of Joint Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, 6 patients (7 knees) with severe valgus knee underwent total knee arthroplasty using the Stryker Navigation system, which is an active wireless and imageless system. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months after surgery. The X-ray radiographs for whole limbs were obtained on all patients to determine preoperative and postoperative alignments.

RESULTSA primary, posterior stabilized prosthesis was utilized in all cases. The average preoperative overall mechanical axis of the seven knees was 19.6° ± 4.6° of valgus (range 16° to 29°), and the average postoperative mechanical axis was 0.4° ± 0.7° (range 0.8° varus to 1.4° valgus).

CONCLUSIONSThe navigation system is a very effective and useful tool for accurate intraoperative restoration of alignment in the face of significant deformity with valgus knee. To prevent component malposition, we did not reduce the knee before solidification of bone cement but controlled alignment using the navigation system up to implantation of the final component.