Does Capsular Repair Technique Affect Laxity in TKA

Introduction:Repair of the arthrotomy is a performed at the end of every total knee arthroplasty (TKA). After the arthrotomy is performed, most surgeons attempt to close the arthrotomy with the medial and lateral edges anatomically approximated. If no landmarks are made prior to performing the arthrotomy however, there is a risk that anatomic approximation may not be obtained. This study looked into the biomechanical changes in stiffness of the knee before and after a medial parapatellar approach repaired with an anatomic, and shifted capsular repair with the medial side of the arthrotomy shifted up or down when repaired to determine if capsular closure may have an effect on the stiffness of the joint.Methods:Fourteen cadaveric TKA specimens were retrieved through the Medical Education and Research Institute (Memphis TN). For each specimen tested, the skin and muscle tissue was removed, and the femur and tibia were cut transversely 180 mm from the joint center. Specimens were fixed in extension in a custo...