[Navigated implantation of total knee endoprostheses in secondary knee osteoarthritis of rheumatoid arthritis patients as compared to conventional technique].
BACKGROUND
The operative treatment of a secondary gonarthrosis due to RA claims high quality in soft tissue balancing and accurate alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) which are essential for good long-term results. The efficiency of an imageless computer-assisted implantation in TKA was evaluated and compared with conventional technique.


METHODS
The authors implanted each 40 TKA either using the imageless computer-assisted or classical surgeon-controlled technique. The quality of implantation was studied on postoperative long leg coronal and lateral x-rays.


RESULTS
A postoperative leg axis between 3 degrees varus and 3 degrees valgus was obtained in 37 patients (92.5%) in the study group and 30 patients (75%) in the control group. Complications influencing the clinical outcome did not occur.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the imageless Vector-Vision navigation system provides the patient a good chance for longterm survival. Especially the ligament balancing tool appears to be useful. Cutting errors can be detected and intraoperatively corrected.
Perlick
L
L
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Regensburg, Bayerisches Rheuma- und Orthopädie-Zentrum gGmbH des BRK, Kaiser-Karl-V-Allee 3, 93077 Bad Abbach, Germany. lars.perlick@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Bäthis
H
H
Lerch
K
K
Lüring
C
C
Tingart
M
M
Grifka
J
J
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome