In vivo knee laxity in flexion and extension: a radiographic study in 30 older healthy subjects.

In order to determine how "tight" a total knee prosthesis should be implanted, it is important to know the amount of laxity in a healthy knee. The objective of this study was to determine knee laxity in extension and flexion in healthy, non-arthritic knees of subjects similar in age to patients undergoing a total knee arthroplasty and to provide guidelines for the orthopaedic surgeon in his attempt to restore the stability of an osteoarthritic knee to normal. Thirty healthy subjects (15 male, 15 female), mean age 62 (SD 6.4) years, were included in the study. For each subject one, randomly selected, knee was stressed in extension and in 70 degrees flexion (15 Nm). Varus and valgus laxity were measured on radiographs. The passive range of motion and active flexion was assessed. Mean valgus laxity in extension was 2.3 degrees (SD 0.9, range 0.2 degrees -4.1 degrees ). In extension mean varus laxity was 2.8 degrees (SD 1.3, range 0.6 degrees -5.4 degrees ). In flexion, mean valgus laxity was 2.5 degrees (SD 1.5, range 0.0 degrees -6.0 degrees ) and mean varus laxity was 3.1 degrees (SD 2.0, range 0.1 degrees -7.0 degrees ). Varus and valgus knee laxity in extension and in flexion were comparable. This study shows that the normal knee in this age group has an inherent degree of varus-valgus laxity. Whether the results of the present study can be used to optimise the total knee arthroplasty implantation technique requires further investigation.