Measurement of knee joint gaps without bone resection: “Physiologic” extension and flexion gaps in total knee arthroplasty are asymmetric and unequal and anterior and posterior cruciate ligament resections produce different gap changes

General agreement is that flexion and extension gaps should be equal and symmetrical in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures. However, comparisons using a standard TKA approach to normal knee joints that have not undergone bone resection are currently unavailable. Since bony preparation can influence capsule and ligament tension, our purpose was to perform measurements without this influence. Andrej Maria Nowakowski, Martin Majewski1, Magdalena Müller-Gerbl, Victor Valderrabano. Journal of Orthopaedic Research; Article first published online: 5 OCT 2011 PDF