title: Computer-assisted femoral head resurfacing.
abstract: Femoral head resurfacing is re-emerging as a surgical option for younger patients who are not yet candidates for total hip replacement. However, this procedure is more difficult than total hip replacement, and the mechanical jigs typically used to align the implant produce significant variability in implant placement and take a significant amount of time to position properly. We propose that a computer-assisted surgical (CAS) technique could reduce implant variability with little or no increase in operative time. We describe a new CAS technique for this procedure and demonstrate in a cadaver study of five paired femurs that the CAS technique in the hands of a novice surgeon markedly reduced the varus/valgus variability of the implant relative to the pre-operative plan (2 degrees standard deviation for CAS versus 5 degrees for a mechanical jig operated by an expert surgeon). We also show that the mechanical jig resulted in significantly retroverted implant placement. There was no significant difference in operative time between the two techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ahodgson@mech.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Antony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Kevin B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Inkpen
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shekhman
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anglin
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonetti
authors.forename: Bassam A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Masri
authors.forename: Clive P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Donald S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Garbuz
authors.forename: Nelson V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Greidanus
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods; D005270:Femur Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted