The advantages of computer assistance in total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the results of computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty (CA-TKA) and non-computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty (C-TKA).

METHODS

We reviewed 175 cases of TKA and assigned them into two groups according to the use of computer assistance. Group A consisted of 50 cases (35 women, 15 men; mean age: 61.3 years), who had C-TKA and Group B consisted of 125 cases (94 women, 31 men; mean age: 70.9 years), CA-TKA. The results of the groups were compared based on the length of the incision, the duration of the surgery, the length of hospitalization and the final alignment of the prosthesis.

RESULTS

The achievement rate of optimal alignment in the coronal plane was significantly higher in the CA-TKA group (95.2%) than the C-TKA group (74%) (p<0.0001). The average surgical time was 69.32 minutes in the C-TKA group (range: 45-94 minutes) and 70.21 minutes in the CA-TKA group (range: 46-98 minutes). The average surgical incision length was 15.78 (range: 11-18.4) cm in the C-TKA group and 12.6 (range: 9.2-16.6) cm in the CA-TKA group. The average hospital stay was 7.3 (range: 5-16) days for the CA-TKA group and 8.5 (range: 5-17) days for the C-TKA group.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that computer assistance provides a more accurate alignment in TKA. The reduced incision length and hospitalization time appear as two other advantages of this technique.