The Impact of Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgical Technique on Coronal Plane Motion and PatelloFemoral Articulation

The Impact of Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgical Technique on Coronal Plane Motion and PatelloFemoral Articulation

The Impact of Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgical Technique on Coronal Plane Motion and PatelloFemoral Articulation

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of two surgical techniques on the outcome of the knee replacement surgery.

How stable a total knee replacement is depends on the correct and precise rotation of the femoral component. Abnormal femoral component rotation has been associated with numerous adverse conditions including knee instability, knee pain, scar tissue, and abnormal knee motion. Controversy exists, however, regarding the most favorable surgical technique to determine accurate femoral component rotation. Some doctors prefer a measured resection technique in which landmarks on the femur bone are used to determine where to place the femoral component. Others recommend a gap-balancing technique in which the femoral component is positioned by balancing the ligaments of the knee and placing it in the position where each ligament is equally strained. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the measured resection and gap-balancing surgical technique on how the total knee replacement moves and patient knee outcome scores. Knee outcome scores are assessed from the responses given by patients to questions about outcomes associated with total knee replacement related to pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sport and recreational function, and knee-related quality of life.

Study patients in this arm of the study will have their knee replacement done using the gap balanced technique. Gap balancing adjusts the bony cuts for femoral rotation to balance the soft tissues of the knee in flexion.

Study patients in this arm of the study will have their knee replacement done using the measured resection surgical technique. Pre-determined bony cuts are made and appropriate balance is obtained by judicious soft tissue releases as required.

Inclusion Criteria: Surgeon and patient have determined that patient requires a primary total knee arthroplasty and agrees to participate and signs the informed consent for study. Exclusion Criteria: History of alcoholism Unable to speak English Inflammatory Arthritis Pregnant women or any woman with plans to begin a family.