Removal of Loose Bodies From the Posterior Aspect of the Knee During Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Technical Note

In planning total knee arthroplasty (TKA), preoperative radiographs may show calcific bodies in the posterior soft tissues of the knee. We describe a technique in which they can be removed without making a separate skin incision during TKA after femoral and tibial bone resection. This technique involves probing the posteromedial capsule with a clamp to identify the opening to a popliteal cyst. Once identified, the opening is tensioned and incised to allow removal of the loose bodies. If retained, these loose bodies can be a source of patient dissatisfaction, particularly since they are sometimes palpable to the patient. This is the first technique to describe removal of such loose bodies during routine TKA without an additional incision.