Principles of surgical technique in knee arthroplasty.

Surgical technique in knee arthroplasty is quite demanding, requiring an understanding of arthritic deformities and meticulous attention to the principles of component insertion. Increasing clinical success in knee arthroplasty can be attributed to better designs, materials, and, most significantly, surgical technique. Although the "new generation" of instruments enhances the likelihood of a reproducible technique, anatomic variation precludes precise application of any instrumentation to all knees. The surgeon must recognize the weakness of the selected system while understanding the principles of conformity, alignment, and rotation to insure technical accuracy.