There are many factors which contribute to function after TKA. In this study we focus on the effect of varus-valgus (VV) balancing measured externally. A loose knee can show instability (Sharkey 2014) while too tight, flexion can be limited. Equal lateral-medial balancing at surgery leads to a better result (Unitt 2008; Gustke 2014), which is generally the surgical goal. Indeed similar varus and valgus laxity angles have been found in most studies in vitro (Markolf 2015; Boguszewski 2015) and in vivo (Schultz 2007; Clarke 2016; Heesterbeek 2008). The angular ranges have been 3–5 degrees at 10–15 Nm of knee moment, females having the higher angles. The goal of this study was to measure the varus and valgus laxity, as well as the functional outcome scores, of two cohorts; well-functioning total knees after at least one year follow-up, and subjects with healthy knees in a similar age group to the TKR's. Our hypothesis was that the results will be equal in the two groups. 50 normal subjects average age 66 (27 male, 23 female) and 50 TKA at 1 year follow-up minimum average age 68 years (16 male, 34 female) were recruited in this IRB study. The TKA's were performed by one surgeon (PAM) of one TKA design, balancing by gap equalization. Subjects completed a KSS evaluation form to determine functional, objective, and satisfaction scores. Varus and valgus measurements were made using the Smart Knee Fixture (Figure 1)(Borukhov 2016) at 20 deg flexion with a moment of 10 Nm.INTRODUCTION
METHODS & MATERIALS
The role of soft tissue balancing in optimizing function and is gaining interest. Consistent soft tissue balancing has been aided by novel technologies that can quantify loads across the joint at the time of surgery. In theory, compressive load equilibrium should be correlated with ligamentous equilibrium between the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The authors propose to use the Coronal Angular Deviation Ratio (CADR) as a functional tool to quantify and track surgical changes in laxity of the collateral ligaments over time and correlate this ratio to validated functional scores and patient reported outcomes. The study is a prospective IRB approved clinical study with three cohorts: (1) a surgical prospective study group (n=112 knees in101 patients) with balanced compartmental loads (2) a matched control group of non-operated high function patients (n=50); (3) a matched control group of high function knee arthroplasty recipients (n=50). Standard statistical analysis method is applied. The testing is performed using a validated angular deviation measuring device. The output variables for this report consist of the maximum numerical angular change of the knee in the coronal plane at 10 degrees of flexion produced by a controlled torque application of 10 Nm in the varus and valgus (VV) directions. This is reported as a ratio (CADR=Varus deviation / Total deviation). The New Knee Society Score is used to track outcomes.INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
