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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Joints 2018; 06(02): 090-094
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1660813
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Conventional versus Smart Wireless Navigation in Total Knee Replacement: Similar Outcomes in a Randomized Prospective Study

Matteo Denti
1   Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
,
Francesco Soldati
2   Clinica Luganese, Lugano, Switzerland
,
Francesca Bartolucci
2   Clinica Luganese, Lugano, Switzerland
,
Emanuela Morenghi
3   Biostatistics Unit, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
,
Laura De Girolamo
1   Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
,
Pietro Randelli
4   Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

06 November 2017

07 May 2018

Publication Date:
20 June 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Purpose The development of new computer-assisted navigation technologies in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has attracted great interest; however, the debate remains open as to the real reliability of these systems. We compared conventional TKA with last generation computer-navigated TKA to find out if navigation can reach better radiographic and clinical outcomes.

Methods Twenty patients with tricompartmental knee osteoarthritis were prospectively selected for conventional TKA (n = 10) or last generation computer-navigated TKA (n = 10). Data regarding age, gender, operated side, and previous surgery were collected. All 20 patients received the same cemented posterior-stabilized TKA. The same surgical instrumentation, including alignment and cutting guides, was used for both the techniques. A single radiologist assessed mechanical alignment and tibial slope before and after surgery. A single orthopaedic surgeon performed clinical evaluation at 1 year after the surgery. Wilcoxon's test was used to compare the outcomes of the two groups. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results No significant differences in mechanical axis or tibial slope was found between the two groups. The clinical outcome was equally good with both techniques. At a mean follow-up of 15.5 months (range, 13–25 months), all patients from both groups were generally satisfied with a full return to daily activities and without a significance difference between them.

Conclusion Our data showed that clinical and radiological outcomes of TKA were not improved by the use of computer-assisted instruments, and that the elevated costs of the system are not warranted.

Level of Evidence This is a Level II, randomized clinical trial.

Keywords

total knee arthroplasty - navigation - smart wireless - limb alignment - computer-assisted