Abstract
The success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) depends on the correct alignment of the implanted component and soft-tissue balancing. Recent developments in computer-assisted surgery have focused on systems for improving TKA.
The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate whether the use of a navigation system during TKA lead to significantly better results than a conventional technique. A total of 24 patients (21 osteoarthritis and 3 rheumatoid arthritis) treated from January 2002 to September 2005 were included in the study. They were 5 men and 19 women, with a mean age of 74 years (range from 64 to 86 years). We divided them into two groups: N group (14 patients; 3 men and 11 women, a mean age 74 years; range from 64 to 86, 13 OA and 1 RA) patients had TKA using the Stryker knee navigation system and M group (10 patients; 2 men and 8 women, a mean age 74 years; range from 70 to 78, 8 OA and 2 RA) without navigation. Three surgeons performed all of the operation and all of the patients received Scorpio SuperFlex® without cementing. Alignment of the leg and the orientation of components were determined on post-operative standing full-length weight-bearing anterior and lateral radiographs. We also analyzed operative time and complications (infection, fracture, pain of inserted pin) in all of the patients.
The computer-assisted TKA showed better alignment in all parameters although operation time was significantly longer in the N group. Analysis showed a highly significant difference between the two groups with regard to the sagital femoral axis. Complications could not be detected in either group. The use of a navigation system provided improvement of the alignment accuracy.
