Ignace Ghijselings
Orthopedisch chirurg bij AZ Alma, Belgium
Title: A Patella in Place Balancer for Total Knee Arthroplasty
Biography:
Abstract:
The “Patella in Place Balancer” (PIPB) is an intra-articular knee balancer with the patella in physiological (anatomical) position. This balancer gives the surgeon an indication of the natural hight of the “flexion gap” and the native length of both (the medial and lateral) collateral ligaments in the 90° flexion position of the knee. This technique allows a measuring of the flexion gap before any bony resection on the femur has been made. The technique makes it possible to maximally preserve the bone and avoid any ligament release. Severe varus and valgus deformities can be corrected with this technique without any ligament release. The PCL is preserved in all the cases.The PIPB can also be used while preserving both cruciate ligaments for placement of bicruciate ligament sparing TKA’s. Because the collateral ligaments are isometric a single radius femoral component is preferred. Avoiding release of the ligaments gives better knee stability, better post pain scores, ensures more rapid recovery and better short- and long therm knee range of motion. Placing a TKP with the PIPB is a ligament balancing technique which avoids any ligament releases and can improve the outcome after total knee arthroplasty. This talk describes step by step the use of a “Patella In Place Balancer” (PIPB) during Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)