The impact of soft tissue release on radiological and clinical outcomes in functional alignment robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty

During FA-TKA, STR is commonly employed to achieve soft tissue balance in cases of severe varus (≥ 10°) or knees with valgus deformity. In knees with varus deformity, the most frequently released structures are the MCL and PCL, whereas in knees with valgus deformity, release predominantly involves the ITB. However, intraoperative STR did not significantly impact postoperative lower limb alignment or short-term clinical outcomes compared to no release. The decision to perform STR should be individualized based on the type and severity of preoperative deformity.