Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty with image-free navigation

Abstract

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) is beginning to emerge as one of the most important technologies in orthopedic surgery. Many of the initial applications of this technology have focused on adult reconstructive surgery of the knee. The value of CAS in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been established in many studies. Minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques for performing TKA are also receiving extensive and intensive attention. The goals of this chapter are to (1) present the rationale for the use of image-free CAS in knee surgery, (2) explain the rationale for combining CAS with MIS techniques, (3) describe the basic components of an image-free navigation system, (4) illustrate a typical CAS-MIS technique, and (5) present the initial results using this technique.