Knee Biomechanics

Typically, joint arthroplasty is performed to relieve pain and improve functionality in a diseased or damaged joint. Diverse knee prostheses have been developed in order to restore the function and kinematics as close as possible to a native knee. Depending on the characteristics, location, and stage of knee joint wear, different prosthetic options may be considered, including partial and total knee arthroplasties. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) involves replacing the entire knee joint, both femoral and tibial surfaces, with anatomically shaped artificial components in the hope of regaining normal joint function and permitting a full range of knee flexion. Several approaches that are useful for TKA have been described, many of which are extensible, but have been modified to perform minimally invasive surgery; the surgeon knows that they can be extended according to intraoperative demands. Soft tissue balance during TKA is a key factor in achieving a long-term successful outcome. The aim of gap balancing is to optimize symmetry in both flexion and extension and involves the release of soft tissues to equalize flexion and extension gaps before further bone resections are performed.