Abstract
Aims: The latest software 3.0 and 4.0 of the OrthoPilot knee navigation system use a new mathematical algorithm to reconstruct mechanical axis. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the alignment of prosthetic components with this software and compare it with the results from older software as well as with manual technique. Method: Thirty navigated SEARCH knees with software 3.0 of an uninterrupted series were evaluated versus thirty navigated knees with older software and a similar series of conventionally instrumented knees of a different type. Results: The results, concerning the five parameters mechanical axis a.p., femoral axis a.p., femoral axis lateral, tibial axis a.p. and tibial axis lateral, are clearly superior to the old navigation group and the manual group. For example, the number of cases with a good mechanical axis, 0,1or 2° of deviation from optimum, was reached in 17 of the manual, 19 of the old navigation and 27 of the new navigation cases. The additional time for operation is 8.7 minutes. No specific complications occurred. Conclusions: The OrthoPilot-Software 3.0 and 4.0 are clearly superior to the old generations. More features, as for example resection-height of the distal femur and the orientation of the femoral component are solved in a convincing manor. The numbers of outliers is again diminished. Navigation in knee arthroplasty with the OrthoPilot has become more sure and intelligent.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
