Intra- and inter-observer variation and reliability of knee pangonometric preoperative planning in total knee Arthroplasty: About 21 cases collected in the orthopedics-traumatology department of the Sint-pieter teaching university medical center in Bruss

Knee arthritis is a frequent disease. Genu varum and genu valgum are the most important etiologic factors. Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is indicated for patients above 70 years old, with symptomatic arthritis, especially if the conservative treatment fails. During total knee replacement (TKR), the initial deformity of the affected lower leg can be corrected by bone resection and soft tissue release. It is possible to plan the bone resections from the pre-operative long leg radiographs using the QT 3000 AGFA Orthopedic tools. Some surgeons plan for it whereas others do not. This is why we studied pre and post-operative X rays and measured bone resections of patients with TKR. Because this intervention is not a common practice in Cameroon, we also attempted to study its indications, technique and results. We found that arthritis is the most common indication. It is mostly caused by a genu varum (71,43%). The TKR by internal para-patellar approach, use of cement, mobile bearing, and cruciate ligament sacrifice is widely used. Complications are rare and patients are very satisfied. The X rays quality is not excellent because 38,10% of them have problems. Angle measurements using computer are reliable. There is a moderate correlation between the bone cuts and angle measurements. We were able to predict the bone cuts of more than 80% of patients. We recommend the respect of the technique of long leg standing radiographs, the use of TKR as a means of treatment of arthritis in Cameroon and the use of computer aided pre-operative planning. This will serve as a guide in order to avoid big errors.