Apparatus and methods for balancing a joint

A system for joint surgery, the system comprising:

• a removable implant including a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, the removable implant configured to be temporarily disposed within a joint such that the first portion is adjacent a first bony structure of the joint and the second portion disposed between the first portion and a second bony structure of the joint, configured to be coupled to a first bony structure;
• the removable implant including a transducer disposed within a volume between the first portion and the second portion, the transducer configured to measure and output data related to the first portion and the second portion,
• the removable implant including an actuator disposed within a volume between the first portion and the second portion, the actuator being configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion, and
• a computer system coupled to the transducer and including a communications module and an output module, the communications module configured to receive the data from the transducer, the output module configured to provide a surgical recommendation to a surgeon based on the data if the joint is out of balance, the surgical recommendation selected from the group consisting of removing bone, releasing ligament, or removing ligament.