Bony landmarks for determining the mechanical axis of the femur in the sagittal plane during total knee arthroplasty.

Background: There is no accepted landmark for the mechanical axis of the femoral axis in sagittal plane in conventional total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: As palpable anatomic landmarks of the femur, lateral epicondyle, and anterior margin of the greater trochanter were identified. The line connecting these two landmarks was defined as the "palpable sagittal axis".