Accuracy considerations in navigated cup placement for total hip arthroplasty.

Computer assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS) technology has recently been introduced to overcome problems resulting from acetabular component malpositioning in total hip arthroplasty. Available navigation modules can conceptually be categorized as computer tomography (CT) based, fluoroscopy based, or image-free. The current study presents a comprehensive accuracy analysis on the computer assisted placement accuracy of acetabular cups. It combines analyses using mathematical approaches, in vitro testing environments, and an in vivo clinical trial. A hybrid navigation approach combining image-free with fluoroscopic technology was chosen as the best compromise to CT-based systems. It introduces pointer-based digitization for easily assessable points and bi-planar fluoroscopy for deep-seated landmarks. From the in vitro data maximum deviations were found to be 3.6 degrees for inclination and 3.8 degrees for anteversion relative to a pre-defined test position. The maximum difference between intraoperatively calculated cup inclination and anteversion with the postoperatively measured position was 4 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively. These data coincide with worst cases scenario predictions applying a statistical simulation model. The proper use of navigation technology can reduce variability of cup placement well within the surgical safe zone. Surgeons have to concentrate on a variety of error sources during the procedure, which may explain the reported strong learning curves for CAOS technologies.

A fast impingement detection algorithm for computer-aided orthopedic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: For simulation of computer-aided orthopedic interventions, the detection of impingement between parts of the patient's anatomy and/or implants is often of key importance. The impingement (collision) detection methods used in the existing literature seem to be unsuitable for two reasons. First, a polyhedral approximation of an anatomical model is not appropriate because medical images are quite irregular and are geometrically complex. Second, geometric and temporal coherences are not always available, because only the final results may be of interest. This article describes the development of a fast and accurate impingement detection algorithm for medical applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presented algorithm takes implicit object models from reconstructions of anatomical CT data that represent complicated anatomical structures. To speed up the detection procedure, a lookup table and a linear transform are used so that searching for impingement between any two objects becomes a problem of calculating spatial indices and checking the lookup table. RESULTS: For any given transformation, the algorithm could perform impingement detection of two objects within 0.1 s on a 167 MHz Sun UltraSPARC1 workstation. Experimental results concerning accuracy, reliability and speed are given for a phantom and for a patient's data set. CONCLUSIONS: This algorithm provides a general-purpose impingement detection method in the sense that objects can be of any shape, and it can be extended to any number of objects in the scene.

Computer-assisted Orthopaedic surgery (AOS): from pedicle screw insertion to further applications.

Computer assisted orthopaedic surgery is a new but rapidly evolving field. Based on previous research and development in the area of stereotactic neuronavigation a few groups have adapted these technologies for the image interactive insertion of pedicle screws. The present paper summarizes past and current work in the field of computer assisted orthopaedic surgery and describes the state of the art of research and future innovations, particularly in in vivo applications.

[Computer-assisted navigated acetabulum placement in hip prosthesis implantation--application study in routine clinical care]. / Computerassistiert navigierte Pfannenplatzierung in der Hüftendoprothetik--Anwendungsstudie im klinischen Routinealltag.

AIM: This study serves to examine the feasibility of a CAS system in clinical routine use in the field of total hip replacement. METHOD: Within a prospective study 70 total hip replacements were performed by one surgeon (KB) between March and November, 1999 using a CAS system for preoperative planning and intraoperative cup placement. RESULTS: The average operating time was 70 min. This means an average increase in total time of operation about 15-20 min. The average blood loss was 630 ml. No additional specific complications due to the use of the system were seen. There was no additional trauma created by percutaneous pointing at the spina or flxing a dynamic reference base (DRB) at the pelvis. CONCLUSION: The active application of this CAS system in clinical routine use showed very good results in feasibility and can be considered as reliable. The navigated cup placement shows the potential of improving the results in cup placement, thus improving the outcome of hip arthroplasty.

[Computer-assisted orthopedic surgery. From pedicle screw insertion to further applications]. / Computerassistierte Orthopädische Chirurgie (CAOS). Von der Pedikelschraubeninsertion zu weiteren Applikationen.

Computer assisted orthopaedic surgery is a new but rapidly evolving field. Based on previous research and development in the area of stereotactic neuronavigation a few groups have adapted these technologies for the image interactive insertion of pedicle screws. The present paper summarizes past and current work in the field of computer assisted orthopaedic surgery and describes the state of the art of research and future innovations, particularly in in vivo applications.

[Computer-assisted navigated cup placement of different cup types in hip arthroplasty--a randomised controlled trial]. / Computerassistierte navigierte Platzierung von verschiedenen Pfannentypen in der Hüftendoprothetik - eine randomisierte kontrollierte Studie.

AIM: The position of the acetabular implant has a great influence on the outcome of total hip arthroplasty. The acetabular implants differ in their characteristics during insertion. In order to control the influence of the implant in different axes, 80 implantations of acetabular component were performed under computer-assisted control by a surogate navigation system. METHOD: Within a prospective randomised study, 70 total hip replacements were performed by one surgeon using two different uncemented implants (PPF screw cup/Hedrocel pressfit cup). The position of the cup was measured at different times during surgery and was compared to 10 cemented PE cup placements. RESULTS: During the milling procedure the anteversion of the two uncemented cups differed significantly (p = 0.026). The standard deviation of anteversion during implantation different significantly relating to the cup type: press-fit cup 3.86 degrees, screw cup 2.1 degrees and cemented PE cups 0,84 degrees. The inclination was less susceptible. CONCLUSION: The cup design of uncemented acetabular implants influences the outcome of surgery. In our trial a spherical press-fit cup showed a greater variability than the screw-cup. The CAS system can be used as a tool to minimise these effects.

The accuracy of free-hand cup positioning--a CT based measurement of cup placement in 105 total hip arthroplasties.

We studied 105 patients who received a total hip arthroplasty between June 1985 and August 2001 using freehand positioning of the acetabular cup. Using pelvic CT scan and the hip-plan module of SurgiGATE-System (Medivision, Oberdorf, Switzerland), we measured the angles of inclination and anteversion of the cup. Mean inclination angle was 45.8 degrees +/-10.1 degrees (range: 23.0-71.5 degrees ) and mean anteversion angle was 27.3 degrees +/-15.0 degrees (range: -23.5 degrees to 59.0 degrees ). We compared the results to the "safe" position as defined by Lewinnek et al. and found that only 27/105 cups were implanted within the limits of the safe position. We conclude that a safe position as defined by Lewinnek et al. [13] was only achieved in a minority of the cups that were implanted freehand.

[Cup placement in hip replacement surgery -- A comparison of free-hand and computer assisted cup placement in total hip arthroplasty -- a multi-center study]. / Pfannenplatzierung in der Hüftendoprothetik -- vergleichende Untersuchung freihand implantierter und computerassistiert platzierter Hüftpfannen -- eine Multizenterstudie.

AIM: The purpose of the current study was to determine the accuracy of free hand and computer-assisted (CAS) cup placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between June 1985 and August 2001, 105 free-hand and from March to November 1999 80 total hip arthroplasties under computer assistance were implanted in the above mentioned centers. To determine the accuracy of the cups, the inclination and anteversion angles were measured. In all cases the cup position was measured with a CT-investigation of the pelvis. Statistical analysis was performed with the F-test. RESULTS: With regard to the inclination and anteversion angles the variability of the cup position was significantly higher in the group of free hand implanted cups. In the CAS group we could not find any "extreme" positions. CONCLUSION: Using computer-assisted surgery a significantly higher reproducible cup position can be obtained. Long time survey may present a lowering of the rate of early and late complications caused by better prostheses alignment in the follow up.