Improving surgical precision--application of navigation system in orthopedic surgery

Navigation systems track objects with precision expressed as root mean square equalling even up to 0.15 mm. Application of navigation system combined with imaging technique makes surgical operations less invasive, which results in the reduced risk of infection, smaller scar and a shorter time of rehabilitation. Imaging techniques allow surgeon to create individual virtual models for virtual surgery planning. Navigation system tracks the positions of surgical tools in relation to the patient's coordinate systems. Medical imaging enables low-invasive surgery, whereas the position of surgical instruments is monitored on screen. The paper presents a newly developed computer-aided surgical system consisting of ultrasonographic probe and tracking system to measure bone geometry, design surgical scenario virtually and follow it intraoperatively. The system assists surgeon to correct bone deformities. The paper presents the results of several accuracy tests, which demonstrate good repeatability and accuracy.