Implementation of a new navigated parallel drill guide for femoral neck fractures

Trauma navigation modules often use conventional mechanical surgical tools for basic simulation of drilling procedures or single screw placement. However, the precise parallel placement or specific angles that may be required are not displayed on the navigation screen. A more complex mechanical tool, a parallel drill guide (PDG) for femoral neck fractures, was integrated into a navigation module as part of this study, thus combining the advantages of mechanical tools with the benefits of fluoroscopic navigation. To implement a conventional PDG with a conventional navigation system, the tool was equipped with a non-detachable reflective marker array. Navigation engineers adapted the software to enable the navigated PDG to be displayed. We evaluated the conventional technique in comparison with the navigated technique using plastic bone models and a fresh frozen cadaver. Implementation of the navigated PDG did not pose any problems, in terms of either the software or the surgical procedure itself. The total operation time was extended by 30%, but the radiation time for the navigated group was reduced by 50%. No software or hardware-related failures occurred. Complete integration of a cannulated parallel drill guide into a navigation system has been successfully implemented. Continuous display of the mechanical guide with two parallel trajectories on the navigation screen enables safe, efficient screw placement within mechanical guidelines, without the need for additional radiographic control once initial registration has been completed.