TKA Flashcards
What is the anatomic relationship of the popliteal artery in the back of the knee in relation to distance from posterior aspect of tibia in flexion and popliteal vein?
In knee flexion - 9 mm from posterior aspect of tibial plateau and ANTERIOR to the popliteal vein (just think - we don’t really talk about hitting the popliteal vein b/c first thing you hit is the artery!)
Varus alignment of the knee results in what force moment about the knee?
Increased adductor moment
Which osteotomy around the knee causes a DECREASE in posterior tibial slope?
What age group of patients should osteotomies be considered in?
Lateral closing wedge tibial osteotomy
Typically active, < 45 yo w/ unicompartmental dz
What is the surgical treatment on the ABOS exam for isolated PFA?
TKA!
Name the 5 DMARDs which can be continued through surgery.
Can steroids be continued through TJA surgery?
Methotrexate Hydroxychloroquine Leflunomide Sulfasalazine Doxycycline (To remember: "Must Have Less Shitty Dz")
Yes! Continue steroids! No stress dose needed for patients taking 16 mg/day or less!
What is the rule for use of biologic agents around time of TJA? And how does this relate to surgical timing?
STOP ALL BIOLOGIC AGENTS (-mab, -ib, etc.) PRIOR TO SURGERY!
Schedule surgery at end of dosing cycle + 1 week.
EXCEPT Tofacitinib -> stop 1 week before surgery (has very short 1/2 life)
When can biologic agents be restarted after TJA?
After wound healing/all sutures/staples removed! ~ 14 days
What is the rule regarding continuation/discontinuation of immunosuppressant meds for severe SLE ( = with organ involvement)?
What is the rule regarding this for non-severe SLE (= w/o organ involvement)?
Severe SLE: CONTINUE all meds perioperatively!!
B/c risk of organ damage»_space; risk of infection!
Non-severe SLE: DISCONTINUE all meds 1 week prior to surgery and RESTART 3-5 days after surgery if wound healing is going okay.
What is the timing for stopping blood thinners/anti-coagulants/NSAIDS prior to TJA?
1 week
Which patient population has been shown to have less improvement after TKA compared to others after TKA?
Obese patients have less improvement in outcomes with TKA compared to others
What axis are femoral and tibial cuts made perpendicular to?
What is maximum amount of jointline change that can occur before kinematic conflict due to change of center of rotation?
Perpendicular to the MECHANICAL AXIS.
8 mm (raise or lower)
What is the differential release on the medial side of the knee (ie to give more laxity in flex vs ext or vice versa)?
How about lateral side?
Medial side: superficial MCL (release more anterior if flexion needed, more posterior if extension needed).
Lateral side: Popliteus if need more flexion/ IT if need more extension (to help remember: know that your IT is tight in ext…think about Ober test!!…or just remember that POP is DAD..and the A is for anterior structure..)
Note: LCL gives a balance fle/ext release
Which is more problematic: extra-articular coronal deformity near or far from the joint? Why?
How do you deal with extra-articular coronal deformity?
Deformity CLOSER to the joint is more problematic b/c larger bone cuts are required in order to cut perpendicular to the mechanical axis -> and these will often directly compromise ligament insertion and/or make you compromise other ligaments in order to balance.
McPherson 1/4 Rule: if w/in 1/4 of joint (so 1/4 distal femur or 1/4 of proximal tibia) and 20 degrees or more of deformity -> NEED AN ADDITIONAL OSTEOTOMY TO FIX IT.
If have less than 20 degrees in the sagittal or coronal plane then you can correct this with your intra-articular cuts.
Fill in the following:
X mm of distal bone resection gives Y more degrees of flexion
2 mm
10 degrees
If have a tight flexion gap in a CR knee - what ligament can be released (different from PS knee) to help with this?
Anterior portion of PCL!
How should anti-coag ppx be changed for Factor V Leiden?
Nothing to change!
What is diff b/t femoral nerve block vs adductor nerve block? What do they both NOT cover?
Femoral = motor & sensory (can fall after surgery!! Knee buckles, so need KI)
Adductor = sensory only! (saphenous and articular branches to vastus medialis)
Neither give posterior capsule pain contol -> so get this intraop with posterior capsule block!
What is the cause of early postop flexion contracture in a patient that you had good ROM in OR?
Hamstring spasm! Put pillow under foot!
What is the major blood supply to the patella (and it’s always cut during TKA)?
After typical TKA what is the source of remaining blood supply to the patella?
Major blood supply -> Inferior medial genicular artery (always disrupted w/ approach and removal of retropatellar tendon fat pad)
Remaining -> Lateral superior genicular artery (can be hit and get patella AVN if you do a lateral retinacular release!)
What is minimum thickness that bony patella can be?
12-13 mm
What are the 2 main options if intraop cut the MCL?
- ) Convert to revision prosthesis w/ high post
2. ) Primary repair of MCL w/ a ROM knee brace worn for 6 weeks unlocked to allow full ROM
What do you do if you have an extensor mechanism disruption (MC patellar tendon avulsion from tibial tubercle)?
Only 1 option -> extensor allograft reconstruction
How do you treat early stiffness vs late stiffness?
Early (< 3 months): MUA
Late -> if can figure out the reason then do a revision and fix the maligned component! Note: an arthrotomy, scar removal, and smaller polly is NOT recommended b/c high failure rate!
Most common metal allergy seen in TJA?
What type of hypersensitivity rxn is it?
What test DOES work and what test DOES NOT work to tell who might get this?
Nickle (followed by Co/Chr) - incidence is 1%
Delayed Type IV
Works: Lymphocyte T Cell proliferation test
DOES NOT work: Skin patch test
What problem/wear is seen in CR knees due to retention of PCL?
Sliding wear - w/o ACL the femur slides anterior in the beginnning of flexion
What can cause a CAM jump in a PS knee?
Loose flexion gap (ie accidentally cutting the popliteus!)