Influence of preoperative knee deformation on tension force in posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.

UNLABELLED Gap-dependent total knee arthroplasty involves applying a tension force to open the joint space. Intuitively, this force is dependent on the degree of joint deformity. AIM The study aims at determining the amount of force and its influence on morphological parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a group of 70 patients in whom total knee arthroplasty was performed ligament tension force was calculated and the influence of various individual morphological parameters was evaluated. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed that tension force is individual, dependent on knee deformation. CONCLUSIONS Ligament tension force cannot be determined preoperatively, it requiring the use of appropriate tensioningdevices.