J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2001 Apr;36(2):149-154.

Intraoperative Measurement of Femorotibial Contact Pressure in Total Knee Arthroplasty

• Seo JG
• Ha KI
• Kim YM
• Kim CB

Abstract

PURPOSE: A new method has been devised to determine contact pressures in prosthetic components. A real time analysis of the contact pressure distribution could help fine tuned implant positioning and ligament balancing during Total Knee Arthroplasty.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Posterior cruciate reserving type procedures were done with externally rotated femoral cut. Femorotibial contact pressure was measured in four compartments in both flexion and extension position. A LOAD CELL located beneath the tibial plate changes the contact pressure into electric signal and DP-41S transformed the electric sign into the pressure unit. Adjunctive fine-tuning operation was done to approximate the equilibrium among the four compartments of the tibial plate.
RESULTS
Femorotibial contact pressure were distributed between 17.1 N (Newton) to 33.4 N (average 23.6 N). A peak contact pressure was exhibited in the anteromedial compartment in extended knee and in the posterolateral compartment in flexed knee.
CONCLUSION
A LOAD CELL electronic transducer technique was introduced. This method was tried to get the balanced equilibrium of contact pressure between Femorotibial components during TKA.

Keyword

Total knee arthroplasty; Femorotibial contact pressure; Load cell technique

MeSH Terms

Arthroplasty*
Knee*
Ligaments
Transducers