Knee arthroplasty: The superiority of digital navigation at Peristeri Medical Center
Total knee arthroplasty is currently one of the most common surgical procedures in Orthopaedics.
It provides reliable results in patients suffering from terminal, tri-compartmental osteoarthritis, with symptoms that continue to persist, despite the exhaustion of all conservative and non-invasive therapeutic methods. Although this progressive condition, characterized by gradual degeneration and loss of articular cartilage, is the most common reason for undergoing arthroplasty (with estimates predicting an annual incidence of 240 people per 100,000 per year), there are other possible diagnoses that are indicated for joint replacement.
Among these are inflammatory arthritis, fracture (post-traumatic osteoarthritis and/or deformity), dysplasia and malignancy.
What are the requirements for a total knee replacement?
Before making a decision, the relative risks and potential benefits should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Given that a large number of factors can influence the outcome, a detailed history, clinical examination, and imaging studies are required before performing a total knee replacement on any patient. Among other things, previous joint replacements, arthroscopies, or other surgical procedures around the knee are taken into account, as old surgical scars can affect the planned surgical approach.
In addition, patients with a history of previous injuries or procedures may present with mechanical axis deformities or knee instability.
Total knee arthroplasty with the OrthoKey system
The cutting edge of digital assistance today for total knee arthroplasty is the OrthoKey system, as it provides effective tools for limb alignment and appropriate soft tissue balancing, which are crucial for the long-term survival of the implant.
It provides real-time guidance to the surgeon, allows surgical planning based on the patient’s anatomical data, and offers detailed guidance for the best completion of each surgical step, with reliable results.
What are the benefits for the patient?
The benefits that the patient derives from using the digital navigation system method for knee arthroplasty are multiple. Among other things, it is a system that is friendly, easy and reliable to use, offers precise and reproducible implant placement and has a navigation system, without the need for CT scanning.
At the same time, it is a bloodless technique that reduces surgical time (and therefore the possibility of inflammation), but most importantly, it offers longevity and improved functional outcome, allowing immediate mobilization of the patient.
Finally, smaller tools are used for its execution, thus contributing to the minimization of trauma, postoperative pain and faster recovery.
