Designed by Surgeons, for Surgeons Lateral Approach Surgical Instrumentation & Instrument Trays Engineered specifically for the lateral approach with instrumentation supporting preparation, alignment, balancing, and trialing. Request Demo KitSurgical Technique Guide Specialized Surgical Tools Instrumentation Designed for the Lateral Technique Performing total knee replacement through a lateral pathway creates different requirements for exposure, protection, preparation, alignment, and trialing. Optimotion developed specialized instruments to meet those demands, including retractors and procedural tools designed to work with the lateral technique, helping surgeons maintain access and protect surrounding structures throughout the case. Instrument Tray Organization Four Trays Supporting the Surgical Workflow The instrumentation is organized across four dedicated trays, with each tray supporting a specific stage of the total knee arthroplasty procedure. From initial femoral, patellar, and tibial preparation through final component trialing, the tray configuration keeps instruments grouped according to their role in the surgical workflow. This organization provides surgical teams with a structured way to access the instruments needed for preparation, alignment, balancing, and trialing as the procedure progresses. Tray 1: Femoral & Patellar Preparation Tray 2: Tibial Preparation Tray 3: Femoral Trialing Tray 4: Tibial Trialing Instrument Use & Sterilization Optimotion Blue surgical instruments and instrument cases are reusable components of the Blue Total Knee Arthroplasty System. Instrument cases are designed to organize and protect surgical instrumentation during handling and storage while allowing steam penetration during validated sterilization cycles. Unless otherwise indicated, instruments are provided non-sterile and must be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before surgical use. View Instructions for Use Instrumentation & System Compatibility Lateral Approach Surgical Instrumentation & Instrument Trays System Compatibility Instrumentation Description Lateral Approach Instruments Specialized surgical instruments, including MCL retractors, support exposure, soft tissue protection, and joint preparation during the minimally invasive lateral approach. Femoral Preparation Femoral alignment guides, sizing instruments, and cutting blocks support bone preparation. Additional femoral box preparation instruments are available for posterior-stabilized (PS) procedures. Tibial Preparation Tibial alignment guides, cutting instruments, and preparation tools support accurate bone resection and component positioning across cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-stabilized (PS) configurations. Trial Components Universal femoral trials, tibial tray templates, and tibial insert trials allow surgeons to evaluate component sizing, range of motion, and joint stability before final implantation. Gap Balancing Instruments Dynamic gap balancing gauges and spacer blocks support intraoperative assessment of joint spacing and ligament balance throughout the surgical procedure. CR & PS Compatibility The OI Blue instrumentation platform supports both CR and PS configurations. Blue Plus PS procedures use additional modular post trials, femoral box trials, and specialized preparation instruments. Our Products Explore More Knee Replacement Systems Cementless Total Knee Replacement System Designed for biological fixation, allowing bone to grow into the porous implant surfaces for long-term stability. View Product Cemented Total Knee Replacement System Uses bone cement to secure the implant components in place during total knee replacement. View Product What Is The Lateral Approach? A Muscle-Sparing Way to Access the Knee The lateral approach changes how surgeons access the knee during total knee replacement. Instead of using a traditional midline pathway, the surgeon enters from the outside of the knee. This muscle-sparing technique avoids cutting the quadriceps and helps preserve more surrounding tissue. By reducing disruption to the front of the knee, the technique is designed to support earlier mobility, less pain and numbness, faster recovery, and a more discreet incision location for patients. Explore the Lateral Approach See How It Works Preserves the Quadriceps Avoids cutting through the quadriceps muscle during the surgical approach. Lateral Incision Placement Moves the incision away from the traditional front-of-knee surgical pathway. Supports Faster Recovery Muscle-sparing access is designed to support earlier mobility, strength, and recovery. Lateral-First Engineering Specialized implants and instrumentation are designed specifically for lateral access. Outpatient Advantages How OI Systems Support ASC Efficiency Efficient Procedures A streamlined surgical workflow can help support efficient use of valuable OR time. Streamlined Instrumentation Four dedicated trays organize preparation and trialing across the total knee procedure. Lower Sterilization Burden A focused instrumentation setup can help reduce reprocessing demands between surgical cases. Faster Room Turnover A more streamlined workflow and instrument setup can help support efficient case turnover. The Lateral Technique The lateral technique follows a structured surgical sequence designed around access from the outside of the knee while preserving the quadriceps. From incision and exposure through bone preparation, trialing, balancing, and final implantation, each stage works together to support precise component placement and a consistent total knee replacement workflow. Lateral Incision Access begins along the lateral side of the knee. Quadriceps Preserved The quadriceps are lifted rather than cut. Kneecap Mobilized The kneecap is moved to provide surgical access. Bone Prepared Femoral and tibial surfaces are prepared for the implants. Components Trialed Trial components help evaluate fit, alignment, and balance. Implants Placed Final components are positioned to reconstruct the knee joint. Full Surgical Technique Technical Resources Find more product information, surgical documentation, and supporting resources for Optimotion Implant systems and instrumentation. All ResourcesSurgical GuidesInstructions for Use Bring the Lateral Approach to Your OR Train with experienced surgeons, evaluate the approach firsthand, and bring the lateral technique into your practice with support at every stage. Apply to Become an OI Surgeon Tell us about your practice and interest in adopting the lateral approach. Observe the Approach See the lateral approach performed firsthand alongside an experienced Optimotion training surgeon. Hands-On Training Build familiarity with the technique through guided, hands-on cadaveric surgical training. Learn From a Peer Work directly with an experienced training surgeon to refine your understanding of the approach. Bring It to Your OR Continue your training with surgeon support available at your own location. See the Full Pathway Explore the training process, available resources, and next steps for becoming an OI surgeon. Become an OI Surgeon Hear From Surgeons Using the Lateral Approach These physicians share what they’ve learned using the lateral approach, what has stood out in their patients’ recoveries, and why the technique has become part of their practice. Surgeon TestimonialsPatient Testimonials Dr. Pasquale Reino Over 95% of my patients who had a traditional surgery and then came to me for the lateral approach say the recovery was much faster in terms of motion, easier in terms of pain, and required less narcotic medication. Dr. David Cheong The quadriceps muscle is not cut. If a muscle isn’t cut, then it doesn’t take the same amount of time to recover and wake up. If a muscle isn’t cut, then typically there is less pain associated with that surgery. Dr. Sergio Martinez I’ve had patients where we did the standard approach on one knee, and we did the second knee with the lateral approach. They all tell me that the lateral approach was a much better recovery. Surgeons Bring the lateral approach into your practice with hands-on training, peer support, and access to Optimotion technology. Become an OI Surgeon Patients Take the next step toward understanding your knee replacement options with a surgeon trained in the lateral approach. Find a Doctor Distributors Partner with Optimotion to bring differentiated implant technology and lateral approach solutions to more surgical teams. Become a Distributor Upcoming Technology See the new technologies and surgical solutions Optimotion is actively developing for the future of knee replacement. Future Innovations