Ligamentous Injury in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction

The integrity of the collateral ligaments is critical to knee joint stability and proper kinematics following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Instability following TKA can be the source of residual pain and swelling. It is also a leading cause of early revision following knee replacement surgery. Intraoperative ligament injuries during TKA is a relatively rare event that has been reported to occur in approximately 0.8% to 2.7% of the time. Failure to recognize and appropriately manage these injuries can compromise patient outcomes and implant survivorship. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to develop a systematic approach to the management of ligament injuries during primary TKA.

Preoperative Considerations