Orthopedics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Orthopedics, including details on chronic injuries, muscoskeletal disorders, surgery, reconstruction.

Comparison of Computer-Assisted Navigation and Conventional Instrumentation for Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Weng YJ, Hsu RW, Hsu WH

Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedics Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia-Yi, Chang Gung University, Chia Yi, Taiwan.

This prospective study analyzed computer-assisted surgery (CAS) navigation and conventional instrumentation in bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Sixty patients underwent CAS navigation in 1 knee and conventional instrumentation in the contralateral knee randomly. The target zone resided in the reconstructed mechanical axis within a range of 3 degrees varus or valgus. The reconstructed mechanical axes in the CAS navigation group were significantly closer to planned axes than those in the conventional group. Average blood loss in the CAS navigation group was lower, whereas mean tourniquet time was longer than in the conventional group. No surgery-related complications existed in either group. The results indicate that, despite longer operative time, CAS navigation total knee arthroplasty is a safe procedure and outperforms conventional technique in accuracy of leg axes.

Published 6 June 2008 in J Arthroplasty.
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