Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

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VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2020 ) > List of Articles

CLINICAL TECHNIQUE

The Joint Angle Tool for Intraoperative Assessment of Coronal Alignment of the Lower Limb

Ahmed A-H Abood, Juozas Petruskevicius, Björn Vogt, Adrien Frommer, Robert Rödl, Jan Duedal Rölfing

Citation Information : Abood AA, Petruskevicius J, Vogt B, Frommer A, Rödl R, Rölfing JD. The Joint Angle Tool for Intraoperative Assessment of Coronal Alignment of the Lower Limb. 2020; 15 (3):169-173.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10080-1511

License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Published Online: 01-12-2020

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: Presentation of the joint angle tool (JAT), a low-cost goniometer for intraoperative assessment of the lower limb alignment. Background: Intraoperative assessment of coronal alignment is important when performing corrective osteotomies around the knee and ankle, limb lengthening, and trauma surgery. JAT provides surgeons with information about the anatomic and mechanical axes intraoperatively based on true anteroposterior radiographs. Technique: JAT consists of pre-printed joint orientation angles of the anatomic and mechanical axis including normal variations on a plastic sheet. It is placed on the screen of the image intensifier after obtaining a true anteroposterior image. The pre-printed joint orientation angles can assist the surgeons intraoperatively in achieving the pre-planned axis correction. Here, its feasibility is demonstrated in four cases. Conclusion and clinical significance: JAT is a modified goniometer that allows intraoperative assessment of the mechanical and anatomic axis. JAT is applicable throughout the entire surgical procedure irrespective of the method of internal fixation and may provide additional reassurance of correct alignment. JAT consists of a plastic sheet with printed joint orientation angles and their normal variation. JAT is freely available from profeedback.dk/JAT/JAT.pdf for use and modification according to the Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 4.0) if this paper is attributed.


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