Sensors, Vol. 21, Pages 5078: Can Intraoperative Intra-Articular Loads Predict Postoperative Knee Joint Laxity Following Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Cadaver Study with Smart Tibial Trays

This study aimed at correlating the intraoperative and postoperative metrics used to assess joint balance while also comparing joint loads obtained during passive assessment and active functional motions. Four experienced surgical fellows were assigned a fresh-frozen lower limb each to plan and perform posterior-stabilised TKA. An instrumented tibial insert measured intraoperative intra-articular loads. Specimens were then subjected to passive flexion–extension, open-chain extension, active squatting, and varus–valgus laxity tests on a validated knee simulator. Intra-articular loads were recorded using the instrumented insert and tibiofemoral kinematics using an optical motion capture system. A negative correlation was observed between mean intraoperative intra-articular loads and corresponding mean postoperative tibial abduction angle during laxity tests (medial: R = −0.93, p = 0.02; lateral: R = −0.88, p = 0.04); however, this was not observed for each specimen. Peak intra-articular load distribution for active squatting was lateral-heavy, contrasting to the medial-heavy distribution observed in passive intraoperative measurements, for all specimens. These aspects should be given due consideration while assessing intraoperative and postoperative joint stability following TKA.

Source: Sensors - July 27, 2021 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Darshan S. Shah Or çun Taylan Matthias Verstraete Pieter Berger Hilde Vandenneucker Lennart Scheys Tags: Communication Source Type: research