Effects of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Resection in Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Computer Assisted Surgery
Pruk Chaiyakit MD*, Surapoj Meknavin MD*, Natthapong Hongku MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : The authors prospectively measure the effects of Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) excision in
Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) using Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS)
Material and Method: Between April 2008 and June 2008, sixteen knees of fifteen patients with varus
deformity less than 20 degree and grossly intact PCL were included in this study. Using CAS and tensioning
device to maintain consistent pressure, extension and flexion gap on both medial and lateral side before and
after resection of PCL was recorded.
Results : The mean increases of extension gap on medial and lateral side after resection of PCL are 0.17 + 0.22
mm (-0.17 to 0.5 mm) and 0.25 + 0.37 mm (-0.33 to 1.16 mm) respectively. The mean increases of flexion gap on
medial and lateral side are 1.29 + 1.02 mm (0-3 mm) and 2.09 + 1.12 (0.5-4.66 mm) respectively.
Conclusion : Resection of PCL showed increase of flexion gap more than extension gap (p-value < 0.05) and
lateral side of flexion gap always increase more than medial side (p-value < 0.05).
Keywords : Computer Assisted Surgery, CAS, Total Knee Arthroplasty, Posterior Cruciate Ligament, PCL
