Rotational malalignment of the components may cause chronic pain or early failure in total knee arthroplasty

Rotational alignment of the tibial and femoral component plays an important role in modern total knee replacement surgery. After correct frontal alignment and proper soft tissue balancing, the rotational placement of the components represents the "third dimension" in knee endoprosthetic surgery. Improved surgical techniques with modified instruments and better rotational component positioning will lead to better functional outcomes. Patients with painful total knee arthroplasties (TKA) or early failure without evident classic implantation failures or signs of infection should be evaluated for malrotation of the components. In a prospective study in 26 patients with painful TKA and malrotation of the tibia and/or femur component, revision surgery with exchange of the components was performed. Twenty-five cases showed clinically relevant internal malrotation of the tibial component (circle divide 8.4degrees) and/or femoral component (circle divide 5.6degrees). Only one patient had 10degrees of external malrotation of the femoral component. Combined malrotations of the tibia and femur were found in ten knees (38%). After revision surgery and correction of malrotations, 20 patients (78%) were scored with excellent and good results. Patients with painful TKA resistant to conservative therapy and evident malrotations of the component should be considered for revision surgery with change of the malrotated components.