Kinematic Knee Replacement

Kinematic knee replacement is a surgical technique designed to restore a patient’s natural knee movement by aligning the prosthetic components with their unique joint anatomy. Unlike traditional mechanical alignment, which standardizes knee positioning based on average population norms, kinematic alignment customizes the implant placement to match the pre-arthritic anatomy of the individual.

Key Principles:

1. Restoring Native Joint Kinematics – The procedure aims to replicate the patient’s natural tibial and femoral joint surfaces, preserving normal ligament tension and motion.
2. Personalized Implant Positioning – Instead of aligning the implant perpendicular to the mechanical axis, the surgeon positions it in a way that maintains the original joint angles.
3. Reduced Soft Tissue Releases – Because the implant aligns with the patient's natural knee motion, there is typically less need for ligament releases, leading to more balanced and natural movement postoperatively.
4. Potential Benefits – Studies suggest kinematic knee replacement may lead to improved patient satisfaction, better range of motion, and a more natural feel compared to traditional methods.

While kinematic alignment is gaining popularity, it requires precise preoperative planning and intraoperative execution.