title: Does computer-assisted surgical navigation total knee arthroplasty reduce venous thromboembolism compared with conventional total knee arthroplasty?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aims to show that total knee arthroplasty using computer-assisted surgical navigation without intramedullary rodding is safer than conventional intramedullary techniques in preventing venous thromboembolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 patients were grouped into groups of 10. Groups A and B had conventional intramedullary rodding of the femur and/or tibia. Group C had no rodding of the femur and tibia using computer-assisted surgical navigation. The degree, duration and size of the embolic shower were captured by a transoesophageal echocardiography probe. The echogenic emboli were graded according to the Mayo Clinic score. Haemodynamic parameters such as pulse oximetry oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide, heart rate and mean arterial pressure were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the size of the emboli and the Mayo Clinic score when comparing the groups with intramedullary rodding and those without. There was also a significant difference in the pulse oximetry oxygen saturation and heart rate when the group without intramedullary rodding was compared with groups with rodding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical navigation total knee arthroplasty may be safer than conventional total knee replacement with intramedullary rodding in preventing venous thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433. lai_hock_ooi@ttsh.com.sg
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lefi