Morphology of the transepicondylar axis and its application in primary and revision total knee arthroplasty

A morphologic anatomic study was done of the lower extremity to investigate various relationships of the transepicondylar axis (TEA). Thirteen cadaver specimens were dissected and mounted to a metal frame with a pin passing through the TEA. The center of the knee was determined as the depth of the anterior intercondylar groove. The ratio of the upper leg to lower leg measured from femoral head center and ankle center to TEA was 1.02. The mean distance of the TEA to the joint line was 7.08 cm medial and 2.53 cm lateral. The mean femoral angle comparing the TEA to mechanical axis was 0.61 degrees varus. The mean tibial angle comparing the TEA to the mechanical axis was 0.40 varus in extension and 0.43 degrees in flexion, with no significant difference in the lower extremity angle with flexion (P < .01). The TEA is an important landmark that, from this study, is virtually perpendicular to the mechanical axis of the lower extremity and parallels the knee flexion axis. Femoral component rotation and joint line positioning in total knee arthroplasty can be determined using the TEA.