The Effect of Minor Adjustments to Tibial and Femoral Component Position on Soft Tissue Balance in Robotic Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND

Ideal goals for alignment and balance in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remain controversial. We aimed to compare initial alignment and balance using mechanical alignment (MA) and kinematic alignment (KA) techniques and to analyze the percentage of knees that could achieve balance using limited adjustments to component position.

METHODS

Prospective data on 331 primary robotic TKAs (115 MAs and 216 KAs) were analyzed. Medial and lateral virtual gaps were recorded in both flexion and extension. A computer algorithm was used to calculate potential (theoretical) implant alignment solutions to achieve balance within 1 millimeter (mm) without soft tissue release given an alignment philosophy (MA or KA), angular boundaries (±1, ±2, or ±3°), and gap targets (equal gaps or lateral laxity allowed). The percentage of knees that could theoretically achieve balance was compared.

RESULTS

Less than 5% of TKAs were initially balanced. Limited adjustments to component position increased the percentage of TKAs that could be balanced in a graduated manner, with no difference between MA and KA start points: adjustments of ±1 (10% versus 6%, P = .17), ±2 (42% versus 39%, P = .61), or of ±3 (54% versus 51%, P = .66). A higher percentage of TKAs could be balanced when a greater range for lateral gap laxity was allowed. Balancing from KA resulted in increased joint line obliquity in the final implant alignment.

CONCLUSION

A high percentage of TKAs can be balanced without soft tissue release using minor adjustments to component position. Surgeons should consider the relationship between alignment and balance goals when optimizing component positioning in TKA.