This prospective series of 115 Denham total knee replacements (1976–1981, median 8-year follow-up) asks whether postoperative coronal alignment — measured by Maquet's line on full-length standing radiographs — predicts subsequent tibial component loosening.
When reviewing a TKA postoperatively, don't accept alignment that looks 'close enough' on a short knee film — even 3° of coronal malalignment increases loosening risk eightfold, and short radiographs cannot reliably detect errors this small.
A single postoperative long-leg standing radiograph with Maquet's line assessment is the standard the authors recommend for audit and prognostication in every case.
This prospective series of 115 Denham total knee replacements (1976–1981, median 8-year follow-up) asks whether postoperative coronal alignment — measured by Maquet's line on full-length standing radiographs — predicts subsequent tibial component loosening.
When reviewing a TKA postoperatively, don't accept alignment that looks 'close enough' on a short knee film — even 3° of coronal malalignment increases loosening risk eightfold, and short radiographs cannot reliably detect errors this small.
A single postoperative long-leg standing radiograph with Maquet's line assessment is the standard the authors recommend for audit and prognostication in every case.