Fig. 1

Our method of measurements. a Measurement of the intraoperative joint line distance (IJLD) on a knee undergoing total knee replacement. The nose of the hemostat indicates the adductor tubercle. The arrow line depicts the distance from this landmark to the distal condylar surface, or the IJLD, which is measured with a caliper. b Next, an 18-G spinal needle pinpoints the same landmark. A 2-mm-long segment of the metal stylet is tapped into the bony surface from within the sheath of the needle to mark the adductor tubercle for radiographic analysis