RECENT ADVANCES IN KNEE SURGERY-TECHNIQUES AND
TECHNOLOGY
Total knee replacement
surgery has been a safe and effective surgery for treatment of advanced stages
of knee arthritis. It has been in use for many decades and over the years many
advances in technology, surgical techniques and material have enabled this
surgery to become even more precise with better and longer lasting results and allow quick recovery. I have
attempted to explain some of these advances in simple words
Advancement in Technology--Computer Navigated
Knee Surgery
Computer navigation in
total knee replacement has been in clinical use for last 10 years in US and UK
and it attempts to correct some of the problems faced in traditional total knee
replacement. Accurate placement of a knee replacement is one of the most
important predictors of longevity of knee replacement. Minor misalignment can
lead to early loosening, early polyethylene wear and poor function. Computer
navigation allows the surgeon to accurately check and adjust, if necessary,
each step along the way, whilst performing the knee replacement, which still
allows the surgeon to exercise his skill and judgement for optimal positioning
of the implant.
The computer
navigation system works by combining computers, infrared cameras and
instruments that reflect infrared light back to the camera. This permits the
surgeon to finely adjust the position of the new knee with certainty, so that
he or she can orientate the replacement joint to function optimally. The
surgeon is always in control of the operation and only uses the computer to
provide information on where to place the new knee.
When using the
computer navigation system, pins are required, to be temporarily inserted into
the bone; they are then removed once the new knee is inserted. This requires
two very small (half a cm long) additional incisions to be made on the skin
over the shin bone in addition to the standard scar used to insert the new
knee, which is over the front of the knee.
Numerous studies have
shown that the information from the computer navigation provides patients with
a more precise operation to those performed with the standard instruments. It
was thought to be a breakthrough technological advance, however one of the main
reasons why this technology is not more widespread is that it can take longer
to perform the surgery using the computer navigation system, additional costly equipments
are needed and it needs two small additional incisions. Some of the drawbacks
of this technology are now addressed by Patient matched instruments which is
described below.
Advancement in
Technology--Custom made Instruments/Patient matched Instruments
One of the most recent recent
advancement is the development is Patient Matched Instrumentation. These
patient-specific surgical instruments are custom made for the precise alignment
of patient’s knee, potentially increasing implant longevity.
This techniques requires
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Images) and X-Ray images of patient’s affected leg into
an advanced web-based software program, which will generate virtual images of
the knee. Surgical instruments and guides are then designed and built, mapping
out specific bone cuts to accurately align the implant to the knee. These knee
instruments are specifically made as per the size and shape of the patient’s knee bones and take 6 weeks to get ready.
There are several
distinct advantages of this technology. It removes multiple steps from the
traditional surgical technique and shortens surgical time as most of the
planning about size and placement of implants takes place preoperatively using
computer software programme. This may
lead to less blood loss and a lower risk of infection.
Patient Matched instruments allow surgeon to
achieve precise alignment of the knee implants, potentially reducing wear – a
leading cause of early implant failure.Customized instruments enable a less
invasive surgical procedure which can reduce soft tissue and muscle damage
which may speed the recovery time.
A knee implant
accurately aligned may not only feel more natural, but may also last longer
than traditional knee replacements.
Advancement in technique-Minimally Invasive Knee (MIS) surgery
I don’t think minimally invasive surgery is
the kind of “disruptive technology” that is going to revolutionize total knee
replacement, which is already a safe, effective, time tested operation. The
gains, if any, are likely to be marginal, and I think these other approaches to
postoperative care can probably match them. So my advice to the patients is to
not to focus on the length of the incision because it will be irrelevant within
2-3 months of surgery! What would really matter in the long term would be the
position of their implants !!! Advances
in technology like computer navigated
surgery and patient matched
instruments are helpful for the surgeon to achieve this goal.
Advancement in materials—Highly crosslinked Polyethylene and
Ceramic implants
The plastic insert
(polyethylene) that is used as a substitute of the cartilage in the artificial
knee gradually wears out with time.
There has been a major advancement in the quality of these plastic
inserts and by producing crosslinking in its structure, the durability if these
inserts have increased manifolds in experimental studies. These Highly
cross-linked plastic inserts and now available in both knee and hip replacement
implants and should be offered to all patient and must always be used in young
patients. Similarly using ceramic
implants instead of Metallic implants have shown to reduce the wear of this
plastic insert further and should be offered to young patients who need knee
replacement surgery. Ceramic implants have been used routinely in
hipreplacement surgery for many years.
For Further Information regarding Knee
and Hip replacement surgery visit my website www.gurgaonkneeandshoulderclinic.com.
Dr Jayant Arora
MS(Orth), FNB(Orth), MRCS(Ed)
Fellowship Joint replacement and
Arthroscopy, Newcastle,UK
Senior Consultant and Joint replacement
Surgeon
Columbia Asia hospital
For appointments at Hospital in Gurgaon
contact: 01243989896
For appointments at Dwarka clinic
Contact: 01132313201
Mobile 9873830947
www.gurgaonkneeadnshoulderclinic.com
Very nicely written post. I think there is more risk involved in computer navigated surgery than manual surgery.
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