[Alignment techniques for implantation of a total knee endoprosthesis with particular focus on kinematic alignment].

Background: This review introduces various techniques for implantation of a total knee endoprosthesis and scrutinizes the "mechanical alignment" of a total knee endoprosthesis, whereby the various alignment concepts are examined. In particular, kinematic alignment, in terms of its significance, the individual steps of the implantation technique and the data collected, will be examined in more detail.

Methods: Improvement in the clinical results after implantation of a total knee endoprosthesis can be achieved by a personalized, individualized, physiological implantation that respects the unique anatomical characteristics of each patient.

Kinematic alignment technique for total hip and knee arthroplasty: The personalized implant positioning surgery.

Conventional techniques for hip and knee arthroplasty have led to good long-term clinical outcomes, but complications remain despite better surgical precision and improvements in implant design and quality.Technological improvements and a better understanding of joint kinematics have facilitated the progression to 'personalized' implant positioning (kinematic alignment) for total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty, the true value of which remains to be determined.By achieving a true knee resurfacing, the kinematic alignment (KA) technique for TKA aims at aligning the components with the physiological kinematic axes of the knee and restoring the constitutional tibio-femoral joint line frontal and axial orientation and soft-tissue laxity.

Current concepts for aligning knee implants: patient-specific or systematic?

Mechanical or anatomical alignment techniques create a supposedly 'biomechanically friendly' but often functionally limited prosthetic knee.Alternative techniques for alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aim at being more anatomical and patient-specific, aiming to improve functional outcomes after TKA.The kinematic alignment (KA) technique for TKA has shown good early clinical outcomes.