Surgical Technique of Total Knee Arthroplasty: Basic Concepts Including Surgical Approaches, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Simultaneous Bilateral Arthroplasty

Abstract

The goals of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are to relieve the pain of end-stage arthrosis, restore mobility and improve a patient’s quality of life. This should be done with the least trauma to the patient and should produce a result that is sustained over the longer term. Although decades of research and development have produced implants that modelled on native anatomy and provide excellent outcomes, the artificial joint is still not able to completely reproduce the function of a native knee joint. Achieving the optimal result from any particular implant is reliant on precise surgical technique and optimised perioperative care. Many advances in surgical technique have been introduced in the last decade, leading to improved outcomes, and the purpose of this chapter is to describe the basic concepts of surgical technique in TKA, including an evidence-based analysis of newer techniques and their utility in improving the outcomes of this surgery.