Computer-Aided Surgery-Navigated, Functional Alignment Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Surgical Technique

William B O'Callaghan; Conor Gouk; Matthew P R Wilkinson; Kaushik Haztratwala

doi:10.1016/j.artd.2022.01.029

Computer-Aided Surgery-Navigated, Functional Alignment Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Surgical Technique

Arthroplast Today. 2022 Mar 11:14:121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2022.01.029. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Authors

William B O'Callaghan^{1

2

3

4}, Conor Gouk^{1

3

4

5}, Matthew P R Wilkinson^{1

6}, Kaushik Haztratwala^{1

2

3

5}

Affiliations

¹ The Orthopaedic Research institute of Queensland (ORIQL), Pimlico Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
² Mater Health Services North Queensland Ltd, Pimlico Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
³ Townsville University Hospital, Douglas Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ Cairn Base Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Abstract

The decision on which technique to use to perform a total knee arthroplasty has become much more complicated over the last decade. The shortfalls of mechanical alignment and kinematic alignment has led to the development of a new alignment philosophy, functional alignment. Functional alignment uses preoperative radiographic measurements, computer-aided surgery, and intraoperative assessment of balance, to leave the patient with the most "normal" knee kinematics achievable with minimal soft-tissue release. The purpose of this surgical technique article is to describe in detail the particular technique needed to achieve these alignment objectives.

Keywords: Alignment; Functional alignment; Kinematics; Total knee arthroplasty.