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Patient-related factors influence stiffness of the soft tissue complex during intraoperative gap balancing in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

How much force is needed to pre-tension the ligaments during total knee arthroplasty? The goal of this study was to determine this force for extension and flexion, and for both compartments, and to identify predicting patient-related factors.

Methods

Eighty patients [55 females, mean age 71 (SD 9.7)] were recruited and had a navigated cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty. Distraction of the medial and lateral compartments of the extension and flexion gap (90°) with an instrumented bi-compartmental double-spring tensioner took place after finishing the bone cuts. Applied forces and resulting gap distances were recorded by the navigation system, resulting in a force–elongation curve. Lines were fitted with the intersection defined as the stiffness transition point. The slopes (N/mm) represented the stiffness of the ligamentous complex. Linear multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predicting factors.

Results

The amount of force at the stiffness transition point was on average 52.3 (CI95 50.7–53.9), 54.5 (CI95 52.7–56.3), 48.3 (CI95 46.2–50.2), and 59.3 (CI95 57.0–61.6) N for the medial and lateral extension and flexion gap, respectively, and varied considerably between patients. The force at the stiffness transition point was significantly different between extension and flexion and both compartments (P < 0.05). Stiffness of the ligaments statistically significantly helped to predict the amount of force at the stiffness transition point, as well as body mass index, gender, and varus–valgus alignment.

Conclusion

The amount of force at the stiffness transition point varies between 48 and 59 N, depending on flexion/extension and compartment. Patient-related factors influence the stiffness transition point and can help predict the stiffness transition point. When forces higher than 60 N are used for gap distraction, the ligamentous sleeve of the knee might be over-tensioned.

Level of evidence

Prognostic study, Level I—high-quality prospective cohort study with >80 % follow-up, and all patients enrolled at same time point in disease.

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Acknowledgments

Some financial support was provided by Smith and Nephew. Smith and Nephew had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication. The authors wish to thank Noël Keijsers for his support in writing the data analysis software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sint Maartenskliniek Research, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    P. J. C. Heesterbeek

  2. Orthopedic hospital Gersthof, Vienna, Austria

    N. Haffner & P. Ritschl

  3. Sint Maartenskliniek Orthopaedics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    A. B. Wymenga

  4. Medivation, Windisch, Switzerland

    J. Stifter

Authors
  1. P. J. C. Heesterbeek
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  2. N. Haffner
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  3. A. B. Wymenga
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  4. J. Stifter
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  5. P. Ritschl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. J. C. Heesterbeek.

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Heesterbeek, P.J.C., Haffner, N., Wymenga, A.B. et al. Patient-related factors influence stiffness of the soft tissue complex during intraoperative gap balancing in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 2760–2768 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3694-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3694-5

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