United Orthopedic Corporation

1 Surgical Incision The surgeon may select to use any standard exposure method to perform the skin and capsular incision. If the medial parapatellar approach is selected, a straight midline skin and capsular incisions, extending above and below the patella is applied to begin the exposure. The capsular exposure is then approached by utilizing a longitudinal medial parapatellar incision, typically extending upward to a level of one third of the rectus femoris or vastus medialis and downward to the medial side of the origin of patellar tendon on the tibial tuberosity. Once the exposure is completed, the patella is everted in a standard fashion, and the knee joint is inspected under vision. Careful assessment and removal of the ostoephytes should be undertaken. In the meanwhile, ROM, patellar tracking, and soft tissue stability/instability should be evaluated again. It may be the preference of the surgeon to conduct a preliminary soft tissue release of the fixed contracted structures. Once completed, the knee is flexed to 90 degrees to perform the initial femoral pilot hole for the intramedullary alignment.