Thermal damage and tracker-pin track infection in computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty.

Choice of pins, drills, and drilling technique can result in heat generation leading to thermal necrosis of bone. This has been reported frequently in internal as well as in external fixation. This publication is the first report of a patient having osteomyelitis of the proximal tibia due to thermal necrosis following tracker pin placement in computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty.