Different Deformity Origins and Morphological Features in Subtypes of Valgus Knees: A Radiological Classification System

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the deformity origins and distribution among valgus knees to individualize their morphological features. METHODS: Radiographic images of 105 valgus knees were analyzed. Long‐film radiographs and computed tomography were collected for every knee. A malalignment test was performed on standing long‐film radiographs. The hip‐knee‐ankle angle (HKA), the anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), and the anatomical medial proximal tibial angle (aMPTA) were measured on long‐film radiographs. The distal condylar angle and posterior condylar angle on distal femur were further measured on computed tomography scans. The tibial bone varus angle was measured on long‐film radiographs as well. All the valgus knees were sorted into different subtypes according to the origins of bony deformity, and the prevalence of each subtype was reported. Finally, to examine the inter‐observer reproducibility of this classification system, two observers measured the deformities and did the classification for all the 105 knees independently and then the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. RESULTS: Among the 105 knees, 48 knees (45.7%) had apparent deformity from the tibial plateau, and 62 knees (59.0%) had apparent deformity from the supracondylar region of the femur. Eighteen knees (17.1%) had distal condylar angle >7°, among which 11 knees had posterior condylar angle >3° simultaneously. Valgus knees had five subtypes of bone deformity origins—the supracondylar part of the femur, the distal aspect of the lateral femoral condyle, both distal and posterior aspects of the lateral femoral condyle, the tibial plateau, or the metaphyseal segment of the tibia. A valgus knee could be labeled as only one subtype, or a combination of two or more subtypes. Labeling 105 knees with origin of the most severe deformity, the prevalence of each subtype was 40.0%, 5.7%, 9.5%, 28.6%, and 16.2%, respectively. The intra‐observer and inter‐observer ICC of this classification system was 0.992 and 0.976, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Valgus knees can be classified into different subtypes according to deformity origins. This radiological classification system has satisfactory reproducibility. It helps surgeons better individualize morphological features of valgus knees.