Optimal Distraction Force for Evaluating Tibiofemoral Joint Gaps in Posterior Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract

Obtaining well-balanced soft tissues is important to achieve natural knee kinematics after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In conventional procedures, soft tissue balance is evaluated with spacer blocks or lamina spreaders. However, the evaluation depends on the surgeons' experience and is not quantitative. This study aims to measure the mechanical properties of knee soft tissue with a new ligament balancer and to determine the optimal distraction force for evaluating tibiofemoral joint gaps in TKA.