Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

The Effect of Minor Adjustments to Tibial and Femoral Component Position on Soft Tissue Balance in Robotic Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Ideal goals for alignment and balance in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remain controversial. We aimed to compare initial alignment and balance using mechanical alignment (MA) and kinematic alignment (KA) techniques, and to analyze the percentage of knees that could achieve balance using limited adjustments to component position.

METHODS: Prospective data on 331 primary robotic TKAs (115 MA and 216 KA) were analyzed. Medial and lateral virtual gaps were recorded in both flexion and extension. A computer algorithm was used to calculate potential (theoretical) implant alignment solutions to achieve balance within 1 millimeter (mm) without soft tissue release given an alignment philosophy (MA or KA), angular boundaries (±1, ±2, or ±3°), and gap targets (equal gaps or lateral laxity allowed). The percentage of knees that could theoretically achieve balance was compared.

RESULTS: Less than 5% of TKAs were initially balanced. Limited adjustments to component position increased the percentage of TKAs that could be balanced in a graduated manner, with no difference between MA and KA start points: adjustments of ±1 (10 vs 6% P=0.17), or ±2 (42 vs 39% P=0.61) or of ±3 (54 vs 51% P=0.66). A higher percentage of TKAs could be balanced when a greater range for lateral gap laxity was allowed. Balancing from KA resulted in increased joint line obliquity in the final implant alignment.

CONCLUSION: A high percentage of TKAs can be balanced without soft-tissue release using minor adjustments to component position. Surgeons should consider the relationship between alignment and balance goals when optimizing component positioning in TKA.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app