Alignment in total knee arthroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomechanical engineering
• Medical device technology

Background:

• Patient dissatisfaction is common after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• Implant alignment and stability are key factors influencing TKA outcomes.
• Current alignment techniques (mechanical and kinematic) have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define functional alignment as a novel approach for TKA.
• To propose a hybrid technique that balances mechanical and soft tissue considerations.
• To identify optimal alignment targets for improved TKA results.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing alignment strategies in TKA.
• Conceptualization of functional alignment as a synthesis of mechanical and kinematic principles.
• Discussion of potential techniques for achieving functional alignment targets.

Main Results:

• Mechanical alignment prioritizes bone geometry, potentially compromising soft tissues.
• Kinematic alignment prioritizes soft tissues, potentially neglecting mechanical stability.
• Functional alignment aims to integrate both mechanical soundness and soft tissue harmony.

Conclusions:

• Functional alignment offers a promising hybrid strategy for TKA.
• This technique seeks to optimize implant positioning for better patient outcomes.
• Further research and clinical validation are needed to establish functional alignment's efficacy.