title: Surgical approaches in total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Total knee replacement surgery begins with correct planning of both the incision and the exposure of the joint. Indeed, these are factors that are just as crucial to an optimal outcome as choosing the right implant, positioning the components, and balancing the ligaments. While it is true that the standard incision and arthrotomy (with which we are most familiar) will, in most primary implant cases, provide adequate joint exposure, it is also true that cases characterized by certain conditions, such as previous cutaneous incisions, a stiff knee or patella baja, present specific skin and exposure problems that need to be recognized, planned for and overcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint replacement and Sports Surgery, Casa di Cura Polispecialistica Sant'elena Gruppo Kinetika, Quartu Sant'elena, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint replacement and Sports Surgery, Casa di Cura Polispecialistica Sant'elena Gruppo Kinetika, Quartu Sant'elena, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint replacement and Sports Surgery, Casa di Cura Polispecialistica Sant'elena Gruppo Kinetika, Quartu Sant'elena, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint replacement and Sports Surgery, Casa di Cura Polispecialistica Sant'elena Gruppo Kinetika, Quartu Sant'elena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piu
authors.affiliation: Department of Joint replacement and Sports Surgery, Casa di Cura Polispecialistica Sant'elena Gruppo Kinetika, Quartu Sant'elena, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvi
keywords: arthroplasty; exposure; knee; osteoarthritis; skin incision