Abstract
We evaluated the soft tissue balancing during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using two kinds of tension device. Results showed varus deformity in 29 joints of 26 patients’ 18 females, 8 men with an average age of 72.3 years’. We used two methods in all patients, reflection and reduction of the patella, in a position of extension and flexion of the knee at 90°, to access and compare the joint gap (mm) and lateral balance (°) between two methods. The joint gap using the reduction method averaged 1.5mm larger than reflection method. However, the data varied between the reflection and reduction methods for a single patient. Our tension device measurement method of the reduction of the patella proved less time consuming and is applicable for minimum invasive surgery dealing with narrowed space vision. Future studies should evaluate more TKA patients with this method and improve upon the measurement method of joint tension for the stable and proper ligament adjustment.
