Weight-bearing radiography depends on limb loading

The mechanical axis of the lower limb has shown to vary between different weight-bearing conditions and change after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between mechanical axis alignment in standing long-leg radiographs and limb loading after TKA. Mechanical axis of the lower limb and limb loading have been prospectively evaluated in 115 patients 10 days and 3 months after TKA. By the moment of standing long-leg radiography for analysis of the mechanical leg axis, two digital scales separately captured the load of each limb. Mechanical axis changed from an initial − 1° ± 2° valgus alignment to a varus axis of + 1° ± 2° (p