Excision of the cruciate ligaments in total knee replacement.
The cruciate ligaments (and the intercondylar eminence of the tibia) should be removed when the knee is replaced. A mechanically unlinked prosthesis can be designed which will then be capable of restoring "cruciate" stability, i.e., anteroposterior stability of the tibia in the flexed knee. A knee replaced with such a prosthesis will only be stable if the prosthesis is inserted using the correct instruments and technique. Stability depends as much on precise surgical technique as it does on prosthetic design.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000379:methods; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011474:Prosthesis Design