Effect of flexion angle on coronal laxity in patients with mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty prostheses

Proper soft tissue tension is one of the important factors in mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We evaluated varus/valgus laxities, particularly at flexion, which is a key factor in reducing the risk of subluxation and dislocation of bearings to assess the effect that the flexion angle and the presence or absence of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) have on laxity in patients with low-contact stress (LCS) prostheses of the PCL-retaining (24 patients, 24 knees) and PCL-sacrificing (24 patients, 24 knees) type designs during extension and flexion. Both types of prosthesis had about 4degrees laxity at extension and 3degrees at flexion. PCL-retaining prostheses had significantly less laxity at flexion than at extension (P = 0.0004 in varus, P = 0.0043 in valgus). For good clinical outcomes following TKA, 3degrees-4degrees laxity in the varus and valgus orientations is recommended. In addition, the PCL might be involved in flexion and could affect varus/valgus laxity in PCL-retaining prostheses.