Positioning of total knee arthroplasty with and without navigation support

TLDR

The study investigates whether using a navigation system during total knee arthroplasty yields significantly better results than the hand‑guided technique. The study enrolled 240 patients, all receiving a condylar knee prosthesis, and had two surgeons perform the procedures with the Stryker knee navigation system, excluding cases requiring constrained implants. Navigation significantly improved implant alignment, yielding better mechanical, frontal, sagittal femoral, and frontal tibial axes compared to hand‑guided surgery (p < 0.0001).

Abstract

We conducted this prospective randomised and externally evaluated study to investigate whether the use of a navigation system during total knee arthroplasty leads to significantly better results than the hand-guided technique. A total of 240 patients was included in the study. All patients received a condylar knee prosthesis. Two surgeons performed all the operations using the Stryker knee navigation system. Exclusion criteria included the necessity for the primary use of constrained implants. The results revealed a highly significant difference between the two groups in favour of navigation with regard to the mechanical axis, the frontal and sagittal femoral axis and the frontal tibial axis (p < 0.0001). The use of a navigation system was therefore shown to improve the alignment of the implant.