Evaluation of Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Mechanical Axis Alignment Measure of the Lower Limb through the Panoramic Radiograph in Patients in the Preoperative and Postoperative Periods of Total Knee Arthroplasty

Objective: To evaluate intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the measurement of the mechanical axis of the lower limb by means of the panoramic radiograph of lower limbs by physicians with different levels of medical practice. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study with preoperative and postoperative radiographic analysis of a group of 100 patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty. Results: It was observed that there is a highly significant intraobserver and interobserver agreement (p < 0.0001), both preoperatively and postoperatively, among four observers with different training levels. Conclusion: The panoramic radiograph of the lower limbs is a reliable method for measuring the mechanical axis of the lower limb in patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty, regardless of the level of medical practice of the evaluator.