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.
The study aims at determining the amount of force and its influence on morphological parameters.
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.
Statistical analysis showed that tension force is individual, dependent on knee deformation.
Ligament tension force cannot be determined preoperatively, it requiring the use of appropriate tensioningdevices.