This single-center RCT (n=99 TKAs) asked whether kinematic alignment (KA) — using MRI-based patient-specific cutting blocks to recreate each patient's prearthritic anatomy — produces better 2-year functional outcomes than computer-navigated mechanical alignment (MA) in primary TKA.
When counseling patients or choosing alignment strategy, recognize that KA does not offer a proven functional advantage over well-executed computer-navigated MA at 2 years — and that its systematic tibial varus and greater alignment variability carry unresolved long-term survivorship risk that must be weighed against the absence of measurable benefit.
This single-center RCT (n=99 TKAs) asked whether kinematic alignment (KA) — using MRI-based patient-specific cutting blocks to recreate each patient's prearthritic anatomy — produces better 2-year functional outcomes than computer-navigated mechanical alignment (MA) in primary TKA.
When counseling patients or choosing alignment strategy, recognize that KA does not offer a proven functional advantage over well-executed computer-navigated MA at 2 years — and that its systematic tibial varus and greater alignment variability carry unresolved long-term survivorship risk that must be weighed against the absence of measurable benefit.