Navigation as a predictor of soft tissue release during 90 cases of computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract

Soft tissue balance during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures may be challenging to achieve in knees with severe valgus or varus deformities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of navigation in predicting soft tissue release during 90 computer-assisted TKA procedures performed within a 2-year period. Fourteen soft tissue releases were performed, 13 of which were for genu varum, including 9 deep medial collateral ligaments and 4 deep and superficial medial collateral ligaments, and 1 for genu valgum deformity. Forty-one cases were intraoperatively overcorrectable (45.5%), and 20 cases were reducible to a neutral axis. The results proved that navigation can predict the need to perform a soft tissue release during computer-assisted TKA.