A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials depicted that better functional outcomes were achieved by kinematic alignment (KA) than the mechanical alignment (MA) in people undergoing knee surgery concerning knee flexion range, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores (WOMAC), and Knee Society Score (KSS). Binfeng Liu et al. aimed to compare the outcomes of mechanical alignment technique and kinematic alignment technique.

Databases such as Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, EMBASE, and PubMed were searched to find out relevant randomized controlled trials. The clinical endpoints of people undergoing knee arthroplasty with KA and MA were incorporated in the analysis. Overall, 1112 subjects were incorporated in the study. KA treatment group included 559 subjects and the MA treatment group included 553 subjects.

The subjects with KA exhibited better WOMAC scores, KSS scores, and knee flexion range compared to MA. The joint line orientation angle, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, and femoral knee angle varied in terms of radiological findings between both groups. Perioperatively, the walk distance prior to the discharge was found to be longer in the KA group as compared to the MA group.

In both the alignment groups, the perioperative outcomes, radiological results, other functional outcomes, and postoperative complication rates were comparable. Hence, KA showed superior knee functional results than MA in total knee arthroplasty patients.