The present application provides an apparatus arid method for determining a position of a joint prosthesis using a computer assisted orthopedic surgery system in support of an arthroplasty surgery. The apparatus and method includes attaching a first beatable element to a first bone on one side of a joint, providing a sensor having a second beatable element and moving the sensor in proximity of the joint to locate a plurality of positions of the sensor relative to the first beatable element using a tracking device. The apparatus and method further includes selecting a generic model of a joint determining the generic model in response to the plurality of positions located using the tracking device to generate a deformed model, determining a position for a joint prosthesis on the deformed model and outputting on a display the determined position, upon the deformed model.
