Columbus navigated TKA system: clinical and radiological results at a minimum of 5 years with survivorship analysis

The major factors that determine a favorable long-term clinical and functional outcome after conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include correct implant positioning and restoration of the mechanical axis with soft tissue balancing to reduce aseptic failure; hence, the need for further developmental strategies that improve the accuracy and reproducibility of the surgical technique remains paramount for contemporary navigation research. Not all navigation systems are the same. The literature published thus far on mid-term results of navigated TKA relies on software that has no step-by-step soft tissue balancing with the tibia-first technique. The results are equivalent to those of conventional TKA.Therefore, the current authors conducted a minimum 5-year follow-up of a soft tissue-based navigated TKA system with the goal of soft tissue balancing. They analyzed intraoperative alignment and range of motion measurements, functional outcomes, radiographic assessment, and survival rates of high-flexion, high-conformity unresurfaced patella TKAs. The results at 5 years revealed a component revision rate of 0% compared with other nonnavigated TKAs (2.8% revision rate). The authors achieved a well-balanced TKA with a 0°±2° mechanical axis and an improved range of motion from 95° preoperatively to 110° postoperatively.