| ABSTRACTRevision total knee arthroplasty is a major challenge in orthopedic practice. One of the main concerns is to restore the level of the joint line to match the flexion and extension gaps. We developed a simple method to assess the joint line intraoperatively. It consists of drilling two 4.5-mm-diameter holes by a set number of centimeters (10 usually) from the joint line. One hole is drilled on the anterior crest of the tibia; and the second, on the anterior side of the femur. Once the trial components have been positioned with their augments and stems, the distance between the joint line and the holes is checked on the tibia and the femur. Components are then modified as needed according to the preoperative planning before fixation of the definitive implants.Measurements were available in 21 cases.The described drill-hole pinpointing method is a helpful and accurate method in locating the joint line as planned preoperatively.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.