What is Software-Guided Knee Replacement?

Software-guided surgery, also known as surgical navigation or computer-assisted surgery, is a method that some orthopedic surgeons use during knee procedures to restore stability and function of the knee.

Similar to a car or mobile Global Positioning System (GPS), software-guided surgical systems continuously track points of the anatomy and display them on a computer monitor in the operating room before, during and after surgery, helping to guide the surgeon through important milestones of the procedure. The software-guided surgery system provides your doctor with additional information and measurements and tracks the surgical instruments being used for the procedure.

In knee replacement surgery, the surgical navigation software will measure the position of your shin and thigh bones and the surgical instruments in relation to each other, helping to calculate leg alignment and helping to support accurate implant placement. The system also allows the surgeon to intraoperatively react and verify or, if necessary, correct performed treatment steps during surgery. Accurate placement and stability of artificial knee components is critical to the overall function of a new knee joint and can potentially help implants to last longer.3

Benefits of software-guided surgery:

  • High post-operative patient satisfaction1
  • Decreased blood loss1
  • Better alignment compared to conventional surgery2
  • Potentially better long-term outcomes2

Talk to your orthopedic surgeon to find out if software-guided knee replacement surgery is an option for you.

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1 ‘Blood loss in computer-assisted mobile bearing total knee arthroplasty. A comparison of computer-assisted surgery with a conventional technique.’ Int Orthop, 2009, 33, 1609-1613.; Conteduca F. et al.

2 ‘Clinical outcome using a ligament referencing technique in CAS versus conventional technique.’ Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010; Sept 18; Lehnen K. et al.