System and method for orthopedic measurement and alignment

A method of measuring the muscular-skeletal system comprising the steps of:

• distracting two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system with a spacer;
• and
• measuring misalignment of a surface of the two surfaces to a mechanical axis with an alignment aid coupled to a handle of the spacer block where the alignment aid is coupled to a surface or feature on the handle that has a relational position to the surface.

An orthopedic system comprising:

• a dynamic distractor having a superior surface and an inferior surface to variably distract at least two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system where either the superior or inferior surface includes a sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the muscular-skeletal system;
• and
• a handle coupled to the distractor where the handle has at least one feature having a relational position to a surface of the at least two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system to aid in determining misalignment to a mechanical axis of the muscular-skeletal system.