Use of a Spacer Block Tool for Assessment of Joint Line Position during Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

J Knee Surg DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722628There is a tendency of orthopaedic surgeons to elevate joint line (JL) in revision total knee arthroplasty (RTKA). Here, we ascertain the use of the spacer block tool (SBT) to determine JL more accurately for less experienced RTKA surgeons. To perform more precise restoration of JL, an SBT with markers was developed and produced using computer software and three-dimensional printers. The study was planned prospectively to include patients who received either condylar constrained or rotating hinge RTKA between January 2016 and December 2019. To determine JL, distance from fibular head (FH), adductor tubercle (AT), and medial epicondyle (ME) were measured on contralateral knee preoperative radiographs and on operated knee postoperative radiographs. Patients were randomized and grouped according to the technique of JL reconstruction. In Group 1, conventional methods by evaluating aforementioned landmarks and preoperative contralateral knee measurements were used to determine JL, whereas in Group 2, the SBT was used. The main outcome measure was the JL change in revised knee postoperatively in contrast to contralateral knee to compare effective restoration of JL between the groups. Twenty-five patients in Group 1 (3 males, 22 females, 72 years, body mass index [BMI] 32.04 ± 4.45) and 20 patients (7 males, 13 females, 74 years, BMI 30.12 ± 5.02) in Group 2 were included in the study. JL measurements for the whole group were FH-JL ...
Source: Journal of Knee Surgery - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research