Posterior Cruciate-Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty
Richard Scott, MD
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emeritus
Harvard Medical School
Abstract: Total knee arthroplasty has evolved into a very successful procedure to relieve pain and restore function in the arthritic knee with advanced structural damage. Optimal results are dependent on the restoration of alignment and ligament stability. Operative techniques involve either preservation of the posterior cruciate ligament or substitution of its function through increased prosthetic constraint. The vast majority of knees do not require cruciate substitution to establish appropriate stability and function. This video outlines the operative technique used by the author for posterior cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty in a patient with a preoperative varus deformity.