Computer navigation and robotically assisted surgery are the latest revolutions in orthopaedic surgery. These technologies are used for replacement of arthritic knee or hip joints.
Computer navigation provides the surgeon with the real time 3-D images of the mapped patient’s affected joint and the surgical instruments during surgery. The data for the images is provided by the infrared sensors fixed to the bones of the joint and the surgical instruments. Their position is tracked by an infrared camera placed above the surgical table connected to the computer. The computer than generates the real time images with the help of the appropriate software to guide the surgeon to precisely resurface and cut the bones of the joint and fix the implant precisely & accurately according to the pre-operative surgical plan. Thus the surgery is done by the surgeon only. Computer navigation is just a tool to guide the surgeon and improve the outcome of the surgery. It cannot replace the skills of an experienced surgeon.
Robotically assisted surgery may allow for more accurate bone resections and implant alignment whilst employing minimally invasive surgical techniques.
The life of the implant can be extended by precise alignment of the implant and this can be achieved by the use of computer navigation for total joint replacement surgery.