POP: Preoperative planning and simulation software for total hip replacement surgery

Abstract

Proper implant placement during total hip replacement (THR) surgery has been shown to reduce short and long term complication including dislocations, accelerated wear, and loosening of the implants. Correct implant orientation is the most important factor in preventing impingement, which is a major cause of dislocation and wear following total hip replacement surgery. However, proper implant orientation is also dependent upon patient-specific factors such as pelvic anatomy bone coverage and level of femoral osteotomy, and can affect leg lengths and offsets. This paper describes a preoperative planner for THR that enables the surgeon to determine the optimal placement of the femoral and acetabular components for THR taking all of these factors into account. Coupled with a computer-assisted clinical system for precise implant positioning, this approach could significantly improve patient outcomes and lower costs.