A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery examines the effectiveness of computer navigation for total knee replacement.
The study includes data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry to examine the impact of computer navigation on primary knee replacement revision rates.
The computer navigation was used in 44,573 patients, 14.1 percent of all primary total knee replacement patients who underwent the procedure from January 2003 to December 2012.
Here are five things to know from the study:
1. The rate of computer navigation increased from 2.4 percent in 2003 to 22.8 percent in 2012.
2. The revision rate for non-navigated total knee replacement was 5.2 percent nine years after the primary surgery. For the navigated procedures, the revision rate was 4.6 percent.
3. For younger patients, there was a significant difference between the navigated and non-navigated total knee surgery revision rates. The patients younger than 65 who underwent non-navigated total knee replacement had a 7.8 percent revision rate, compared with 6.3 percent for the navigated patients.
4. Computer navigation also led to significantly reducing revision due to loosening and lysis.
5. The study authors concluded, "Computer navigation reduced the overall rate of revision and the rate of revision for loosening/lysis following total knee arthroplasty."