Information for Patients

From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Instability After Total Knee Replacement: Treatment

by Robert A. Malinzak, MD; John B. Meding, MD; Michael E. Berend, MD

The authors provide an overview of total knee replacement (TKR) instability causes and discuss how to diagnose these problems in an attempt to help orthopaedic surgeons treat and resolve TKR instability. A thorough workup is essential to provide detailed knowledge of the TKR instability; this enables orthopaedic surgeons to define the nature of the instability and thus develop an appropriate treatment plan. Ligament balancing for primary TKR is discussed in detail because an understanding of the principles is essential for understanding TKR instability. Diagnosis, features, and treatment options for the three main types of TKR instability (flexion-extension instability, flexion instability, and extension instability) are also discussed.

Keywords: primary TKR ligament balancing, flexion-extension instability, flexion instability, extension instability, genu recurvatum, knee hyperextension

If you are an AAOS Member or an OKO subscriber, you can view this topic after log in.

If you are a health care professional who is not an AAOS Member or OKO subscriber, you can get more information about subscribing here. Information for patients and the general public can be accessed through the links in the gray box above.

Back to Menu