Not all knee replacements are the same. Many patients don’t realize there are two major surgical philosophies: traditional mechanical alignment, which follows a one-size-fits-all model, and kinematic alignment, which restores your knee’s natural alignment and motion. The difference can significantly impact your recovery, function, and long-term success.
Traditional mechanical alignment developed in the 1970s aims to place every knee into the same straight alignment, often altering natural joint mechanics. This can lead to pain, stiffness, and instability in 20–25% of patients.
Kinematic alignment, however, is a personalized approach that uses precise caliper-based measurements to match the components to your knee’s natural pre-arthritic alignment, precisely restoring your pre-arthritic knee structure and ensuring a more natural feel, improved function, and faster recovery. Patients who choose this technique often experience:
Caliper-verified resections confirm accuracy within ± 0.5 millimeters while reducing complications using manual, robotic, or navigation techniques, making the surgery more precise, efficient, and effective.
This minimally invasive procedure reduces complications, preserves ligaments, and takes less than 50 minutes. 90% of patients are discharged the same day 2 hours after surgery, and implant longevity is equivalent or superior to traditional knee replacements.
Not only does this technique improve recovery, but implant longevity is also exceptional—with survival rates short and mid-term equivalent or superior to mechanical knee replacements, combined with uncemented techniques can often now be considered lifetime knees.
With 35+ years of experience and over 21,000 knee procedures performed, I have dedicated my career to perfecting kinematic knee replacements. This technique demands expertise and precision, and I ensure each procedure is optimized for natural movement and long-term success.
This is what I do every day. Dr Howell pioneered Kinematic Total Knee surgery in 2006 and invited me to perform this in 2007, and since then, I have become the highest-volume kinematic total knee surgeon in the country.
If you’re considering knee replacement and want lasting relief with a faster recovery, let’s discuss how kinematic knee arthroplasty can help you return to the life you love.
Want to dive deeper into kinematic knee arthroplasty? Explore the history, precision techniques, and key principles that make this approach a game-changer in knee replacement.
The modern field of total knee arthroplasty has evolved significantly since its beginnings in the 1970s when cemented implants and durable plastic components were first introduced. Over time, two distinct surgical philosophies emerged: mechanical alignment (a standardized approach) and anatomic alignment (the foundation of modern kinematic alignment).
In 2006, Dr. Stephen Howell, a professor of biomedical engineering and sports medicine surgeon, pioneered calipered kinematic alignment, shifting the focus to personalized surgery that restores the knee’s natural pre-arthritic alignment.
I was among the earliest adopters of this technique, helping drive its early and long-term success in orthopaedics.
Kinematic alignment uses calipered measurements to place the implant with ± 0.5 mm accuracy, preserving healthy ligaments and optimizing natural knee movement. Unlike robotic-assisted surgery, which relies on pre-programmed templates, this technique prioritizes patient-specific placement, leading to:
Kinematic alignment follows a precise set of surgical principles, often referred to as the “Ten Commandments” of Kinematic Alignment, guiding surgeons through caliper-based bone resections, soft tissue preservation, and intraoperative verification techniques—all of which are critical to ensuring long-term implant success.
As one of the earliest leaders in this approach, I remain committed to refining these techniques to give my patients the best possible results.
If you’re considering knee replacement, choosing a surgeon with expertise in calipered kinematic alignment is essential for a pain-free, long-lasting result.
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