Abstract
IN THE PAST success of TKA has been measured by ROM with maximum flexion as a bench mark, along with good stability of the knee joint MAINLY IN EXTENSION. Due to changing demographics our TKA population has shifted to more active and demanding patients which want to return to normal daily living, including professional and recreational sports activities. With the patella in place, we define a ligament “balanced resection” technique using the elibra device, and are able to optimize our results and meet younger, more active patient's expectations. Our workflow consists of a flexion gap first technique, maximizing posterior condylar offset, hence maximizing flexion with optimal ligament balance.
This flexion gap is then transmitted to the extension gap, initially using custom made spacer blocks either neutral or angled in 1°, 2° or 3° applied to the elibra sensing device and more recently by using a specific designed extension gap balancer. The immediate and short term postoperative observations concerning femoral component rotation, patellar tracking, influence of patella in place versus subluxed on flexion gap balance, varus-valgus alignment and complete mitigation of ligament releases will be discussed.
