Comparative study of stability after total knee arthroplasties between navigation system and conventional techniques

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to restore joint stability and function.
• Navigation systems offer potential for improved surgical accuracy in TKA.
• Assessing TKA stability is crucial for long-term implant success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the stability of navigation-assisted TKA with conventional TKA.
• To evaluate mediolateral and anteroposterior laxity in both TKA groups.
• To assess functional outcomes including range of motion and modified Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores.

Main Methods:

• Stress radiographs were used to measure mediolateral laxity in extension and anteroposterior laxity in 90° flexion.
• Modified Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores and range of motion were recorded.
• A cohort of 42 knees underwent navigation-assisted TKA, compared to 44 knees with conventional TKA using a gap technique.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in mean mediolateral laxity (3.5° vs 4.0°) or anteroposterior laxity (4.4 mm vs 4.2 mm) were observed between the groups.
• Mean lateral laxity and anteroposterior laxity measurements were comparable between navigation-assisted and conventional TKA.
• Modified HSS scores and range of motion also showed no significant differences between the two surgical techniques.

Conclusions:

• Navigation-assisted TKA demonstrates comparable joint stability to conventional TKA techniques.
• Surgical technique (navigation vs. conventional) does not significantly impact TKA stability or functional outcomes at minimum 1-year follow-up.
• These findings suggest that both navigation-based and conventional approaches provide similar TKA stability.