Several years ago, orthopedic surgeon Marcus Ford, M.D., was growing increasingly frustrated about one persistent statistic in knee replacement surgery: nearly 20 percent of patients were dissatisfied with their results. The common complaints were painful extended recoveries, stiffness, soreness, difficulty sleeping, and trouble climbing stairs.

Ford believed patients deserved better, so he began searching for a new approach to total knee arthroplasty for severe osteoarthritis. That search led him to kinematic alignment (KA), a technique based on the mechanics of movement, which he now offers at Texas Hip and Knee Center, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice in Fort Worth.

The human knee joint is naturally positioned at a slightly angled joint line. Traditional — or mechanical — knee replacements require surgeons to align the bones to a standardized angle established decades ago. But people aren’t standardized. Every knee is unique, and Ford thinks knee replacements should reflect that.

Why Joint Line Matters in Knee Replacement

Kinematic alignment restores the joint to the angle it had before arthritis caused misalignment, rather than forcing it into a one‑size‑fits‑all position. “Instead of aiming for ‘normal,’ with KA we restore what the joint used to be,” Ford explains. “As close as we can get with metal and plastic implants.”

After learning the technique from a colleague in California, Ford followed the emerging research closely. Clinical studies now show that patient satisfaction with total knee replacement nearly triples when kinematic alignment is used.

A Faster, More Natural Recovery

The biggest difference for patients undergoing kinematic alignment surgery is a quicker, smoother recovery. It is a departure from the traditional alignment technique that often requires removing or releasing ligaments to fit the implant. But arthritis affects bone, not ligaments.

Kinematic alignment takes a different approach. Only the bone that will be replaced with metal or plastic is removed, preserving the surrounding structures.

“By matching each patient’s natural knee alignment, we are able to avoid ligament releases at

the time of surgery,” Ford says. “The result is a faster recovery and a knee that moves more naturally, helping the patient return to their active lifestyle sooner.”

Ford also notes that when mechanical alignment was developed, knee replacement patients were typically much older. “Today’s patients are younger, more active, and expect long‑lasting mobility. Kinematic alignment is a great option to help meet those activity and athletic performance expectations.”

Back to Better Movement

Since adding kinematic alignment to the services he provides, Ford has seen the results in his practice. He used to spend hours listening to patients express their concerns about their limitations. Now visits are shorter and patients talk about their long-term satisfaction, pain relief, and better function and motion.

“We’re putting patients back where they were before arthritis; back to sports, activities, and the lifestyle they’ve been accustomed to,” he adds.

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