Calipered Kinematically Aligned Total Knee Arthroplasty: Theory, Surgical Techniques and Perspectives

Calipered kinematic alignment was proposed by Dr. Stephen M. Howell to enable the accurate and individualized placement of total knee components coincident within ?± 0.5 mm of the patient’s pre-arthritic alignment. The aim was to restore the patient's native joint kinematics and thereby address the well documented 20% dissatisfaction when total knee replacement is performed using traditional, or mechanical alignment techniques.

With Dr. Stefano A. Bini and Dr. G. Daxton Steele as co-editors, Dr. Howell has curated an?international team of expert surgeons and engineers?to discuss various aspects of the calipered knee alignment technique in short, concise, and well-illustrated chapters.?Each author provides clear, practical guidance?for adopting and implementing calipered kinematic alignment covering manual, patient-specific, navigated, and robotic techniques.?Chapters on component design tailored explicitly for kinematic alignment and showing the close relationship between knee biomechanics and the kinematically aligned TKA help the surgeon manage complex challenges associated with deformity and post-operative complications.

Following the introduction of the calipered kinematic alignment technique for total knee arthroplasty, many international studies have shown consistently better patient satisfaction than the traditional mechanical alignment technique. Better function and high long-term implant survival have catalyzed a paradigm shift in total knee replacement philosophy that is being embraced by orthopedic surgeons and innovative implant companies around the world with excellent results.