Knee alignment

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

The alignment relationship of femur to tibia when weight-bearing.

Long-leg weighbearing X-rays

Long-leg weightbearing X-rays allowing measurement of the distance between the mechanical axis (yellow) and the anatomical axis (blue). Both lines should pass through the centre of the knee joint.

Illustration to show how a weightbearing X-ray can allow lines to mark how the forces go through the limb..

Alignment problems

Alignment problems may lead to bowing (varus deformity) or knock-knees (valgus deformity).

Varus, Double varus, Triple varus, Valgus, Realignment osteotomy