Abstract
Purpose: Total knee arthroplasty has been established as a reliable treatment modality for advanced gonarthrosis. Satisfactory outcome depends on restoration of the neutral alignment of the leg. Our study evaluates whether computer-assisted navigated knee arthroplasty achieves a more accurate knee alignment.
Materials and Methods: In a prospective study two groups of 24 patients undergoing TKA had operations using either a computer-assisted navigation system or a conventional technique. Limb alignment and component orientation were determined on post-operative coronal and lateral X-rays.
Results: In our study the post operative axis of the thumb was significantly better in the computer-assisted group (94%, within ±3° varus/valgus) compared with the conventional group (82%, within ±3° varus/valgus). A significantly better orientation of the femoral and the tibial components was achieved in the computed-assisted navigated group.
Conclusions: Computer-assisted navigated TKA gives better correction of leg alignment and components orientation as we saw in the computer-assisted navigated group. Potential benefits in the long-term outcome and functional improvement require further investigation.
The abstracts were prepared by Ms Orah Naor. Correspondence should be addressed to Israel Orthopaedic Association at PO Box 7845, Haifa 31074, Israel.
