The role of navigation in total knee replacement surgery

Since the introduction of modern implants in the 1970s, total knee replacement surgery has been a great clinical and commercial success. Implants and techniques have continued to evolve, driven by the desire for improved function and longevity. However, inaccurate insertion of these implants may cause them to loosen and fail. Computer navigation has been introduced as a modification to existing surgical techniques to improve the accuracy with which the bones are cut prior to inserting the knee replacement implants. Research continues to see if this potentially costly and time consuming technique can contribute to improved longevity of knee replacements.