RT Journal
A1 Mont, Michael A.
A1 Mahoney, Ormonde M.
T1 Commentary on an Article by Sebastien Parratte, MD, PhD, et al.: “Effect of Postoperative Mechanical Axis Alignment on the Fifteen-Year Survival of Modern, Cemented Total Knee Replacements”
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2010
FD September 15
VO 92
IS 12
SP e16 1
OP 2
DO 10.2106/JBJS.J.00937
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.00937
AB 
It has been a long-held tenet of total knee replacement that the restoration of a neutral mechanical axis promotes improved durability and function following this surgery. Observational data from over ten series have led to this belief and have in fact been corroborated by in vitro testing, in which increased wear and premature failure of components can occur if the total knee replacements are mechanically aligned in a varus position1-14. This concept is further reinforced by the advances in computerized navigation and other imaging systems that aim for this "ideal" coronal plane alignment to enhance knee replacement survival rates.