title: Use of smart trials for soft-tissue balancing in total knee replacement surgery.
abstract: Smart trials are total knee tibial trial liners   with load bearing and alignment sensors that will graphically show quantitative   compartment load-bearing forces and component track patterns. These   values will demonstrate asymmetrical ligament balancing and misalignments   with the medial retinaculum temporarily closed. Currently surgeons   use feel and visual estimation of imbalance to assess soft-tissue   balancing and tracking with the medial retinaculum open, which results   in lower medial compartment loads and a wider anteroposterior tibial   tracking pattern. The sensor trial will aid the total knee replacement   surgeon in performing soft-tissue balancing by providing quantitative   visual feedback of changes in forces while performing the releases   incrementally. Initial experience using a smart tibial trial is   presented.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Medicine, Florida Orthopaedic Institute, 13020 N. Telecom Parkway, Temple Terrace, Florida 33637, USA. kgustke@floridaortho.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gustke
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016474:Weight-Bearing