Total knee arthroplasty kinematics may be assessed using computer modeling: a feasibility study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer-Assisted Surgery

Background:

• Personalized surgical techniques are crucial for optimizing outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• Effective intraoperative data conveyance is essential for surgeons to utilize patient-specific anatomical information.
• Advancements in computer navigation systems aim to bridge the gap between pre-operative planning and intraoperative execution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of an intraoperative navigation system in recording passive knee kinematics after TKA.
• To compare intraoperative kinematic data with pre-operative computer models.
• To assess the potential for real-time kinematic data interpretation to guide personalized surgical approaches.

Main Methods:

• An intraoperative navigation system was employed to record passive knee kinematics in 10-second intervals post-TKA.
• Clinical data from 10 consecutive TKA cases were averaged.
• Recorded kinematic variables (translation and rotation) were compared to a pre-operative computer model across a range of knee flexion (0°–100°).

Main Results:

• The intraoperative navigation system accurately captured passive knee kinematics.
• Clinical kinematic curves showed favorable comparison with the computer model, with average differences of less than 1° for rotation and 1.5 mm for translation.
• The recorded data demonstrated the feasibility of comparing intraoperative findings with pre-operative predictions.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative navigation systems can reliably record knee kinematics during TKA.
• The close correlation between clinical data and computer models supports the use of navigation for personalized surgical adjustments.
• This technology holds promise for enhancing functional outcomes through real-time, patient-specific surgical guidance in TKA.