Why computer Assisted Navigation?
Conventional / manual technique of knee replacement has been a reliable surgical technique for last 2 to 3 decades and depends heavily on standard surgical jigs and intraoperative ‘eye-balling’ and judgment of surgeon in deciding the alignment and angles of surgical cuts. Mal-alignment or improper alignment is one of the commonest causes of implant loosening. Here the role of Navigation system comes in.
Computer assisted navigation with its Infrared probes attached to patient’s bone and their position being captured and processed continuously by powerful computer creates a virtual model of individual patient’s unique anatomy and thus helps the surgeon in deciding the most appropriate alignment, cuts and implant position for the patient in real time. It significantly reduces the risk of human errors in the surgery and is without the use of expensive and radiation intensive CT and MRI scans before the surgery.
Thus computer navigation with the benefit of perfect alignment and implant placement even in deformed knees or knees with previous fracture / surgery, increases the life of surgery and implant.
Computer navigation also eliminates the need of drilling a hole in distal femur for jig placement, thus reducing blood loss, reducing postoperative pain and reducing risk of fat or pulmonary embolism, therefore making surgery safer and rehabilitation faster.
The crux is to provide best of care to patients, supplement years of experience and skill of the surgeon with latest technology to provide best results and reduce complications. Patients are mobilized early and are able to go to washroom on his own with the help of a Walker the very next day. This adds to the confidence and makes the process of rehabilitation and recovery much easier and relatively pain free for patients and satisfying for us as doctors.
