JBJS, January 1, 2004, Volume 86, Issue 1

The Oblique Posterior Femoral Condylar Radiographic View Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Hiromasa Miura, MD, PhD Shuichi Matsuda, MD, PhD Taro Mawatari, MD, PhD Tsutomu Kawano, MD Ryotaro Nabeyama, MD Yukihide Iwamoto, MD, PhD

Knee

Background: It is often difficult to evaluate the posterior aspects of the femoral condyles after total knee arthroplasty. We have developed an imaging technique involving the use of the oblique posterior condylar view for the evaluation of the posterior aspects of the femoral condyles. The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of this view with that of the true-lateral view.

Methods: Three orthopaedic surgeons analyzed fifty-five sets of radiographs (consisting of oblique posterior condylar and true-lateral views) for patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. The accuracy and reproducibility of the oblique posterior condylar view for the detection of radiolucencies were compared with those of the true-lateral view.

Results: The oblique posterior condylar view was significantly better than the true-lateral view for the detection of radiolucencies of the posterior aspects of the femoral condyles (p < 0.0005).

Conclusions: Radiographic analysis with use of the oblique posterior condylar view is technically easy and is accurate for the evaluation of radiolucencies of the posterior aspects of the femoral condyles after total knee arthroplasty.

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