Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty

Volkan Kızılkaya; Namık Kemal Kılınçcıoğlu; Sefa Erdem Karapınar; Mehmet Melih Asoğlu; Mehmet Fatih Uzun; Anıl Aydın

Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the reliability of commonly used palpable anatomical landmarks for ankle centre localization and to determine the influence of demographic factors on these measurements. Methods: This retrospective study included 80 patients with normal ankle anatomy. The ankle centre was defined on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on the talar dome, and distances to three palpable landmarks, the lateral border of the tibialis anterior tendon, the intermalleolar midpoint, and the extensor hallucis longus tendon—were measured. Comparisons were performed according to sex and age groups. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between variables and the effect of demographic factors. Results: The mean distance to the lateral border of the tibialis anterior tendon was significantly greater in males compared to females (10.01±1.25 mm vs. 9.16±1.10 mm, p=0.004). No significant sex-related differences were observed for the intermalleolar midpoint (2.12±0.62 mm vs. 2.33±0.60 mm, p=0.165) or the extensor hallucis longus (1.65±0.43 mm vs. 1.66±0.36 mm, p=0.902). Age group analysis showed no significant differences for the tibialis anterior tendon (p=0.382) or the intermalleolar midpoint (p=0.248), whereas a significant difference was found for the extensor hallucis longus (p=0.035). In regression analysis, male gender was independently associated with the tibialis anterior tendon distance (β=0.319, p=0.004), while age was not a significant predictor for any parameter. Conclusion: The lateral border of the tibialis anterior tendon appears to be a relatively consistent and reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization, with minimal influence from demographic factors, and may serve as a practical reference for distal alignment in total knee arthroplasty.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Harran University (Approval Date: 04/14/2025; Approval Number: HRÜ/25.07.10). The requirement for informed consent was waived by the ethics committee due to the retrospective design and use of anonymized data.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Orthopaedics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Volkan Kızılkaya
0000-0002-7472-3303
Türkiye

Namık Kemal Kılınçcıoğlu ^*
0000-0003-2920-769X
Türkiye

Sefa Erdem Karapınar
0000-0002-6878-2243
Türkiye

Mehmet Melih Asoğlu
0000-0001-5872-5758
Türkiye

Mehmet Fatih Uzun
0000-0003-2327-5536
Türkiye

Anıl Aydın
0009-0008-6977-7500
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 25, 2026

Submission Date

May 3, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kızılkaya, V., Kılınçcıoğlu, N. K., Karapınar, S. E., Asoğlu, M. M., Uzun, M. F., & Aydın, A. (2026). Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, 7(3), 520-524. https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM

AMA

1.Kızılkaya V, Kılınçcıoğlu NK, Karapınar SE, Asoğlu MM, Uzun MF, Aydın A. Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7(3):520-524. https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM

Chicago

Kızılkaya, Volkan, Namık Kemal Kılınçcıoğlu, Sefa Erdem Karapınar, Mehmet Melih Asoğlu, Mehmet Fatih Uzun, and Anıl Aydın. 2026. “Identification of a Reliable Palpable Landmark for Ankle Centre Localization for Use in Total Knee Arthroplasty”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 (3): 520-24. https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM.

EndNote

Kızılkaya V, Kılınçcıoğlu NK, Karapınar SE, Asoğlu MM, Uzun MF, Aydın A (June 1, 2026) Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7 3 520–524.

IEEE

[1]V. Kızılkaya, N. K. Kılınçcıoğlu, S. E. Karapınar, M. M. Asoğlu, M. F. Uzun, and A. Aydın, “Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty”, J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 520–524, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM

ISNAD

Kızılkaya, Volkan - Kılınçcıoğlu, Namık Kemal - Karapınar, Sefa Erdem - Asoğlu, Mehmet Melih - Uzun, Mehmet Fatih - Aydın, Anıl. “Identification of a Reliable Palpable Landmark for Ankle Centre Localization for Use in Total Knee Arthroplasty”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care 7/3 (June 1, 2026): 520-524. https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM.

JAMA

1.Kızılkaya V, Kılınçcıoğlu NK, Karapınar SE, Asoğlu MM, Uzun MF, Aydın A. Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac. 2026;7:520–524.

MLA

Kızılkaya, Volkan, et al. “Identification of a Reliable Palpable Landmark for Ankle Centre Localization for Use in Total Knee Arthroplasty”. Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care, vol. 7, no. 3, June 2026, pp. 520-4, https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM.

Vancouver

1.Volkan Kızılkaya, Namık Kemal Kılınçcıoğlu, Sefa Erdem Karapınar, Mehmet Melih Asoğlu, Mehmet Fatih Uzun, Anıl Aydın. Identification of a reliable palpable landmark for ankle centre localization for use in total knee arthroplasty. J Med Palliat Care / JOMPAC / jompac [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;7(3):520-4. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA58DN95LM