Radiographic analysis of the axial alignment of the lower extremity in Indian adult males

To evaluate data on the normal axial alignment of the lower extremity in Indian adults and its relevance in knee arthroplasty. The axial alignment of the lower extremity in one hundred young male adults was measured on the weight bearing scanogram of the entire lower limb under standardized conditions. The angles measured were – neck shaft angle, lateral distal femoral angle, medial proximal tibial angle, tibiofemoral angle and valgus angle. Medial inclination of the tibial plateau in our subjects was 4°; this was greater than reported for American subjects but less than that for Chinese. It was significantly noted that valgus angle was 6.2° at an average with the range of 5–7°. Axial alignment of lower extremity differs in various ethnic groups. Indian male subjects have more varus alignment of knee and significant higher medial inclination of tibia plateau than white male subjects (p value < 0.05). Four degrees of external rotation of the femoral component instead of commonly used 3° is necessary, while performing total knee arthroplasty in Indian male subjects.