An Extramedullary
system of alignment for
total knee arthroplasties uses a small
diode laser at the center of the knee adjustable to the longitudinal axis of the
femur to triangulate the center of the
femoral head. It utilizes a V-Frame positioning device that fits into the distal femoral intercondylar notch and is tangent to the
articular surfaces of the notch. It is also parallel to the anterior femoral cortex by using a removal tongue
flange that sits flat on the filed surface of the anterior cortex. This prepositions the Distal Femoral Resector Guide within a few degrees of the center of the
femoral head. An adjustment knob on the V-Frame pivots the distal femoral resector guide to the exact center of the
femoral head for that particular patient accomplishing fine adjustment of the longitudinal axis of the
femur. There is only one position where the
laser beam will go through the center of the target no matter where you position the leg and that is when the target's bulls-eye is exactly over the rotational center of the femoral head. Since the
laser confirms this position, the surgeon is assured that the alignment is accurate. The Distal Femoral Resector Guide is then fixed to bone with fixation pins and the resection made with a power saw. The laser is moved to the target
mount to act as a longitudinal “laser ruler” for the remainder of the operation.