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Current variability in the assessment of component position for the unhappy knee replacement
Author(s) -
Suchowersky Andrew M.,
Dickison David,
Ashton L. A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.15476
Subject(s) - medicine , standardization , total knee arthroplasty , grading (engineering) , protocol (science) , computed tomography , medical physics , metropolitan area , arthroplasty , radiology , surgery , computer science , pathology , civil engineering , alternative medicine , engineering , operating system
Abstract Introduction Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has a success rate of 80–90%, but despite this encouraging figure a painful TKA can be a source of dismay for patients and surgeons. Computed tomography (CT) scan has been developed as a tool to collect data in the analysis of TKA component placement. Protocols used to collect such data exist in orthopaedic and radiology practice with little standardization and significant variation. The aim of this review article was to evaluate such variability by sampling a series of protocols from a range of different radiology practices within NSW, Australia in a case‐based manner and to then compare them against any literature standards. Methods The literature was surveyed for existing CT scan protocols used in TKA assessment. These were then compared with a series of metropolitan and rural radiology firms across the public and private sectors in NSW, Australia. Results Considerable variability exists between current protocols across NSW, Australia, which differ with proposed literature standards. Conclusion Variabilities encountered when comparing the different scanning protocols in use for the assessment of TKA constitute a large potential source of error in the analysis of TKA component positioning. The reliance surgeons place on such analyses suggests the need for an established scanning protocol with an incorporated grading system and standardized values to allow reproducible data to help assess and predict TKA function.