Ligament Balancing in Total Knee Arthroplasty - 9783540207498

Correct knee alignment and ligament balance are inseparable when performing a total knee arthroplasty, and these issues must be addressed both in flexion and extension. This book sets forth a system that ensures both correct knee alignment and stable ligament balance throughout the arc of flexion. First it provides a simple and accurate means to align the knee correctly, then the different functions of the various ligaments are explained, and then special efforts are made to simplify the concepts of ligament balancing and to provide a system by which the operating orthopaedic surgeon can analyze ligament contracture and assess the ligaments in flexion and extension. Techniques to release the specific deforming structure are illustrated.
Common pitfalls are also addressed to illustrate errors that occur when the surgeon fails to correct both alignment and ligament balance both in extension and flexion. For purposes of precision, brevity, and clarity, drawings are used to illustrate virtually every premise, providing a protocol for handling the most severe and perplexing alignment and ligament-balancing problems. The surgeon can follow the guidelines and principles set forth in this text and be assured that the knee will be aligned correctly and also be stable in the coronal plane while being flexible in the sagittal plane. This book is addressed to the practicing knee replacement surgeons but also training surgeons with a special interest in knee arthroplasty.