Navigation, sensor technology provide promising outcomes for TKR
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
WAIKOLOA, Hawaii — Computer navigation and sensor technology are rapidly evolving and may improve outcomes in total knee replacement, according to a presenter here.
Handheld navigation systems allow surgeons to more accurately cut and position the femur, with most navigation studies reporting more accurate alignment, fewer outliers and equivalent clinical outcomes, according to Christopher L. Peters, MD. He added sensor technology may potentially help surgeons quantify ligament balance at the time of the operation.
“The idea is that we can start to see, potentially, patient-reported outcome improvements,” Peters said in his presentation at Orthopedics Today Hawaii. “There are a number of studies now that show an increase in Knee Society Scores and activity level with some of these newer techniques.”
Peters also noted that robotic technology offers navigation, a readout on balance and may assist with execution of the surgery. Early results published on robotic technology have shown “some promise of improved clinical outcomes,” Peters said.
“The question is, ‘Is there value in these technologies?’ That is, are the costs worth it?” Peters said.
In a large series comparing conventional and navigation-assisted TKR, Peters noted a small difference in component alignment and a slight difference in femoral component flexion. He also noted no differences in range of motion and hematocrit between the two groups, as well as no differences in 1-year patient-reported outcome measures.
“The literature supports improved alignment, but perhaps no difference in functional outcomes,” Peters said. “So, I think the jury’s still out on whether there is value in these technologies, but I think the future – in the next 5 years or so – will give us more information as it relates to that.”
Collapse
Peters CL. Accelerometer-based navigation and sensor-guided balancing: Is there value? Presented at: Orthopedics Today Hawaii. Jan. 9-13, 2022; Waikoloa, Hawaii.
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts