The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiological results of quadriceps-sparing total knee arthroplasty.

50 consecutive total knee arthroplasties with a quadriceps-sparing surgical technique and 50 consecutive total knee arthroplasties with conventional surgical techniques were performed. The same surgeon performed all the operations with the same type of prosthesis (Nexgen LPS-flex Total Knee System). We compared the differences between these groups in terms of preoperative and postoperative femorotibial angles, tibial component alignment angles, tibial component inclinations, and ratios of size of the tibia component to tibial cutting size.

There were no differences in preoperative femorotibal angles, tibial component alignment angles, tibial component inclinations, ratios of sizes of tibia tray to tibial cutting size, and blood loss between the two groups (p>0.05). The average ranges of motion and HSS scores at 8 weeks postoperatively in the quadriceps-sparing total knee arthroplasty group were greater than those in the conventional surgical technique (p<0.05). The mean postoperative femorotibial angle in the quadriceps-sparing total knee arthroplasty group was a valgus of 6.9±1.3 ° compared with a valgus of 7.7±1.4 ° in the standard arthroplasty group (p<0.05).

A quadriceps-sparing total knee arthroplasty offers predictable results in terms of radiological comparison with the conventional arthroplasty technique. But this technique has the tendency of producing a decreased valgus angle at the distal femur.