Variance of Alpha Angle with Use of Intramedullary Guide – Long or Short Intramedullary Alignment Guide (IAG)

Abstract

Introduction: Total Knee Replacement is common surgery to treat osteoarthritis in present day. This is important to restore the daily activities of living and at times it also helps to patients to go further with daily activities of earning in their old age. This surgery also reduces the burden of old people in the society. With advancements in TKR surgery, every aspect of alignment of prosthesis needs to be measured to determine acceptability of implant. Further this can help in refinement to improve the movement and acceptance of implant, better patient satisfaction. Aim: We here by propose null hypothesis that use of long or short Intramedullary Alignment Guide (IAG) during the distal femur cut cannot influence the alpha angle of femur. Materials and Methods: This is a radiological evaluation study done in BIRRD (T) Hospital. All the patients admitted into BIRRD for TKR in unit III were evaluated pre operatively. Surgery was performed by different surgeons based upon their training and using of IAG (short or long). There were no indications for use of short or long IAG. This is totally based on surgeon preference on using. Later alpha angle was measured post operatively. Observation and Results: A total of 243 patients were included into the study. Data was collected based the surgeons experience and preference in use of long and short IAG device. There were 96 and 147 patients were long and short IAG devices used respectively. It was found that alpha angle of 93.6o (+ 2.7) and 93.4o (+ 3.04) respectively with long and short IAG. Conclusion: We found that there is no significant statistical difference in alpha angle with use of long and short IAG during femur cuts in TKR. Hence null hypothesis is accepted.