Effect of Posterior Tibial Slope on Flexion and Anterior-Posterior Tibial Translation in Posterior Cruciate-Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty

Reduced posterior tibial slope (PTS) and posterior etibiofemora translation (PTFT) in posterior cruciate-retaining (PCR) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may result in suboptimal flexion. We evaluated the relationship between PTS, PTFT, and total knee flexion after PCR TKA in a cadaveric model. We performed a balanced PCR TKA using 9 transfemoral cadaver specimens and changed postoperative PTS in 1 degrees increments. We measured maximal flexion and relative PTFT at maximal flexion. We determined significant changes in flexion and PTFT as a function of PTS. Findings showed an average increase in flexion of 2.3 degrees and average PTFT increase of 1 mm per degree of PTS increase when increasing PTS from 1 degrees to 4 degrees (P < .05). Small initial increases in PTS appear to significantly increase knee flexion and PTFT. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.