Resurfacing Guide for Knee Arthroplasty

In Total Knee Arthroplasty (called TKR Surgery hereafter), for getting desired results, matching of flexion and extensions gaps is very important. To achieve this the 'measured resection' method is used by surgeons. In this method thickness of resected bones are added to thicknesses of blades used to arrive at measure of the resected gap. This does desperately for extension cuts and flexion cuts. After the cuts are done , adequate soft tissue release is done to get equal flexion gap and extension gap.

If gaps are not equal, or if flexion/extension space is not large enough to accommodate thinnest possible Spacer Block, then the proximal tibia needs to be resected by 2mm. If extension gap is less than flexion gap then distal femur needs to be resected by 2mm. To take either of these cuts, surgeon needs to reassemble and properly realign femoral or tibial , as the case may be, cutting assemblies.

2mm Resurfacing Guide by DOU helps surgeon take 2mm, or even more, resurfacing cuts very easily. There is no need to re-assemble proximal tibial cutting jig or distal femoral cutting jig. DOU's 2mm Resurfacing Guide fits on the proximal tibial or distal femoral cut already taken. It gets wet secured by pins inserted by pin driver. There is also a provision to confirm the alignment with alignment rod. And the resurfacing cut is taken easily and quickly as if it is the original cut. In brief, this 2mm Resurfacing Guide :

• Reduces surgery duration

• Accuracy of resurfacing cut leads to proper matching of flexion and extension gaps

• End result of the surgery is satisfactory because

  • Full range of motions is achieved

  • Knee joint remains stable during entire range of motion

  • Full extension can be achieved in FFD cases

(About author: Ravindra Vartak is mechanical engineer with decades of experience in joint replacement, both knee and hip arthroplasty. He has designed number of innovative instrumentations to the appreciation of leading surgeons. He has Indian and US patents on his name )