General considerations in total knee arthroplasty

Total knee replacement is a powerful but complex surgical procedure. Recognizing and addressing all planes of motion at the knee is mandatory for good results. Accurate alignment of the prosthetic component and the limb is crucial. Close attention to surgical detail and prosthetic interaction is necessary. Current prosthetic replacement fails to return the bone to its normal strain environment. Clinical results with current resurfacing components rival or exceed those obtained with conventional total hip replacement in properly selected patients.