Computed navigated total knee arthroplasty compared to computed tomography scans

Background

Successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) includes accurate alignment. Controversy remains as to whether computer-navigated TKA improves the overall result and clinical outcome. Our aim is to compare the limb alignment and prosthesis positioning according to the pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans with the data collected from the navigation system.

Methods

We compared the pre- and postoperative limb alignments and prosthesis alignment provided by the Orthopilot navigation system, Aesculap®, with CT scans measured by the Traumacad® software of 70 TKAs.

Results

A positive correlation with statistical significance (P = 0.00001, r = 0.874) between the navigation system data and the CT images was found. Mean femoral cut was five degrees (valgus), and mean tibial cut was one degree (varus). Our study revealed that the navigation system assisted the surgeon to implant the prosthesis at a good acceptable alignment.

Conclusion

We found that the navigation system is accurate and correlates to the pre- and postoperative CT scans. Furthermore, the navigation system can assist the surgeon to achieve good limb alignment and cutting planes of the prosthesis.