11/10/2025
# # # Kinematic Alignment in Total Knee Replacement
Today I’d like to talk to you about a new trend in knee replacement surgery — the **kinematic alignment** approach.
# # # # What is kinematic alignment?
Traditionally, surgeons aimed to restore every knee to an “ideal” mechanical axis, assuming all knees were built the same. In reality, that’s not true.
Most people have knees that are naturally slightly angled or rotated — only about 10–15% have perfectly “straight” knees.
The knee is not just a simple hinge; it’s a **complex joint** where the femur and tibia meet and move in harmony with muscles and tendons.
When a person’s natural alignment differs from the ideal, their muscles adapt and function optimally *for that unique anatomy*.
# # # # The problem with traditional alignment
In conventional total knee replacement, we reposition the joint into a standardized alignment, not the one the body was accustomed to.
This means the muscles and tendons must adapt — and sometimes, they never fully do.
# # # # The kinematic approach
Kinematic alignment changes this philosophy.
Instead of forcing the knee into an artificial ideal, we **recreate the patient’s original anatomy**, the one they had before arthritis developed.
# # # # The benefits
✅ More natural walking pattern
✅ Less postoperative discomfort
✅ Faster recovery
✅ Easier surgery, since minimal soft-tissue release is needed
Kinematic alignment respects the **individual biomechanics** of each patient, leading to a knee that feels *natural — not mechanical.*
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