Insertion of a spacer block translates the tibia anteriorly during evaluation of soft tissue balance in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND

Soft tissue balance is an important determinant of the outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there are differences in the joint gap and ligament balance between the osteotomized femoral and tibial surfaces and those after TKA. The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between the femur and tibia at insertion of a spacer block with that after cruciate-retaining (CR) TKA.

METHODS

Thirty knees in 30 patients (26 women, 4 men) who underwent primary CR TKA with a navigation system were enrolled. Mean age at surgery was 76.3 (range, 63-87) years. After osteotomy of the femur and tibia, the flexion-extension gap and ligament balance were evaluated using a spacer block. The location of the tibial center in relation to the femoral center in the sagittal plane calculated from navigation data at insertion of an appropriately sized spacer block in knee flexion was compared with that after CR TKA using the paired t-test.

RESULTS

The mean sagittal location of the tibial center relative to the femoral center in knee flexion was 5.16 (range, -2.4, 16.3) mm at insertion of the spacer block and 6.60 (range, -1.4, 15.1) mm after CR TKA, and this difference was significant (p = 0.016).

CONCLUSION

Assessment of soft tissue balance using a spacer block in CR TKA during knee flexion changes the location of the tibia. Surgeons should be aware of the potential for overestimating the postoperative flexion gap in CR TKA when using a spacer block to assess the flexion gap.