A knee replacement that moves the way yours was meant to

What kinematic alignment is

Your knee was built to move in a particular way, guided by your own ligaments and the natural shape of the joint. Arthritis wears that joint down, but the underlying blueprint — the knee you had before arthritis — is still there.

Kinematic alignment plans the replacement around that blueprint. Dr Yas prepares the bone to match the anatomy you had before arthritis, so the implant sits in harmony with your own muscles and ligaments rather than asking them to adapt to a standard position.

How it differs from the traditional approach

Traditional (mechanical) alignment aims to place every knee into a generic straight-leg position — a one-size model that does not account for the natural variation between individuals. It is effective at relieving pain, but for some people the knee can feel stiff or simply "not quite their own".

This matters because studies have reported that up to around one in five people are not fully satisfied after a traditional knee replacement.¹ Kinematic alignment aims to narrow that gap by restoring your individual anatomy rather than a standard line.

Dr Yas’ own touch: kinematic alignment, refined with robotics

Two things set Dr Yas’ approach apart. First, he has subspecialist training to deliver kinematic alignment in its true, intended form — not a partial version of it.

Second, he uses robotic planning and execution as the tool to carry that personalised plan out with precision. The robotic system helps him measure your individual anatomy, plan the implant position to your own joint lines, and place it accurately — refining the fit to each knee in a way that aims for an even more natural result. The technology serves the philosophy; it does not replace the judgement behind it.

Crucially, Dr Yas plans the fit to more than just your bone — he also accounts for your extensor mechanism, the kneecap and tendons that straighten your leg, so the implant matches the way your knee actually moves. There is more on this in “What to expect” below.

Who it is for

Kinematic alignment is relevant to most people considering a knee replacement, and Dr Yas applies its principles to partial replacements as well as total ones. It can be particularly meaningful for people who want their knee to feel as natural as possible, and for those who have been disappointed by how a previous replacement feels.

As with any surgery, it is considered only when a replacement is genuinely the right step, and non-surgical options are discussed first.

What to expect

It starts before the day of surgery. A scan of your knee is taken in advance, and Dr Yas uses it to study your individual anatomy and plan exactly how the implant should sit — so the operation is mapped out before the first incision.

Here is a detail that sets Dr Yas’ planning apart: he fits the implant not only to your bone, but also to your extensor mechanism — the kneecap, tendons and muscles at the front that straighten your leg. Many kinematic plans align to the bone alone. Dr Yas plans for how your kneecap actually tracks and how the muscles pull, because a knee matched to the bone but not to the way it moves can still feel less than natural. Planning for both is central to how he aims to give you a knee that feels like your own.

In a consultation Dr Yas reviews this plan with you, examines your knee, and explains whether kinematic alignment suits you and what it would involve. Outcomes vary between individuals, so these are aims rather than guarantees — and Dr Yas will always be honest about what is realistic for your knee.