Effect of limb malrotation on malalignment and osteoarthritis.

This article's goal is to review the causes of limb rotation and arthritis and establish the correlation between the two entities. Evidence cited in this article demonstrates that malrotation is coupled with axial malalignment and both are associated with arthrosis of the hip, knee, and ankle. The clinical significance of this observation is that the prognosis of arthrosis developing in a malrotated limb may be predicted. Furthermore, the durability of an osteotomy, arthroplasty, or other surgical intervention may be limited if the intrinsic rotational deformity is not addressed.