Indirect Measurement of Joint Space Distance using Ladmarks in TKRA

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We invented an indirect method to check the changes in the joint space in each steps of the operation procedure such as medial release, bone osteotomy and after total knee replacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have measured ILD in 43 eases of osteoartluitic patients who receive total knee replacement. After knee exposure, two drill holes were made on the anterior surface of distal femur and proximal tibia about 100 mm apart from each other. The length between the two holes was designated as inter-landmark distance(ILD). ILD-I means the original distance between the two holes before any procedure were done. After media3 release, femur and tibia were realigned along the mechanical axis. ILD-II was measured in this aligned situation. ILD-III was measured after femoral and tibial osteotomy. ILD-IV was measured after replacements were done. RESULT: The length difference between ILD-IV and ILB-II was 2. 1+/-2.0mm(Mean+/-2 S.D.). CONCLUSION: We could evaluate the fittness of the total knee replacements numerically by taking an indirect joint space measuring technique using landmarks on the femur and tibia.