Fig. 5

Efficient and failed X-ray visualization of patients receiving spacer treatment. a - b shows the preoperative anteroposterior and weight-bearing full-leg anteroposterior radiographs of the knee, c - d shows the spacer treated knee at postoperative 12 and 24 months, respectively. e - h shows one female patients with spacer dislocation, e, f shows the projections of the treated knee at postoperative one month, spacer have sunk into the cancellous bone of the tibial plateau, failing to provide support to the posterior tibial cortex in red cycle; g, h shows the projections of spacer dislocation at postoperative 12 months. i - l shows another male patients with spacer dislocation, i, j shows the projections of the treated knee at postoperative one month, the blue cycle reveals an inadequate osteotomy of the posterior cortical bone of tibia, resulting in the spacer’s submersion into the tibial plateau’s anterior cancellous bone; k, l shows the projections of spacer dislocation at postoperative 12 months