REVIEW article
Front. Surg.
Sec. Orthopedic Surgery
This article is part of the Research TopicWeight-Bearing CT in Orthopedic Surgery: A Historical Perspective and Future PathwaysView all articles
Weight-bearing computed tomography in knee pathologies: current evidence and future perspectives
Provisionally accepted
Andre Giardino Moreira da Silva1*
Renata Vidal Leão2
Carlos Felipe Teixeira Lobo1Enzo Tunala Mendonça1Camilo Partezani Helito1- 1University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- 2University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, United States
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Weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) provides three-dimensional (3D), high-resolution imaging with patients in either a unipodal or bipodal stance, allowing visualization of dynamic joint alterations that might be missed in conventional radiographs or in non–weight-bearing exams, such as conventional computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Multiple lines of research are exploring its application for the evaluation of knee osteoarthritis, knee ligamentous instability, malalignment syndromes, patellofemoral disorders, and postoperative assessment following total knee arthroplasty. Despite its growing clinical utility, the development of standardized imaging protocols, broader accessibility, and integration with advanced image-analysis tools remain important areas for further progress. This review summarizes the current evidence supporting the clinical applications of WBCT in knee assessment and discusses future directions aimed at optimizing its role in personalized musculoskeletal care.
Keywords: Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Knee alignment, knee osteoarthritis, Knee pathology, Patellofemoral, Total knee arthroplasty, Weight-bearing CT
Received: 16 Dec 2025; Accepted: 31 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 da Silva, Leão, Lobo, Mendonça and Helito. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Andre Giardino Moreira da Silva
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