Augmented reality-based navigation system applied to tibial bone resection in total knee arthroplasty
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Published on: April 12, 2022
Sachiyuki Tsukada1, Hiroyuki Ogawa2, Masahiro Nishino1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokusuikai Kinen Hospital, 3-2-1 Higashihara, Mito, Ibaraki, 310-0035, Japan.
Background:
This pilot study was performed to examine the accuracy of the AR-KNEE system, an imageless navigation system using augmented reality (AR) technology for total knee arthroplasty. The AR-KNEE system enables the surgeon to view information from the navigation superimposed on the surgical field on a smartphone screen in real time.
Methods:
Using the AR-KNEE system, one surgeon resected 10 tibial sawbones with viewing the tibial axis and aiming varus/valgus, posterior slope, internal/external rotation angles, and resection level superimposed on the surgical field. We performed computed tomography of the resected sawbones and measured the varus/valgus, posterior slope, and internal/external rotation angles using a designated computer software. The thickness of the resected bone was measured using digital calipers.
Results:
The absolute differences between the values displayed on the smartphone screen and the measurement values for varus/valgus, posterior slope, internal/external rotation angles, and thickness of the resected bone were 0.5° ± 0.2°, 0.8° ± 0.9°, 1.8° ± 1.5°, and 0.6 mm ± 0.7 mm, respectively.
Conclusions:
This pilot study using sawbones suggested that the AR-KNEE system may provide reliable accuracy for coronal, sagittal, and rotational alignment in tibial bone resection during total knee arthroplasty.
