title: Optimal Number of Fixation Pins for Dedicated Mini Jig Cutting Guides During Navigated Total Knee Arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The optimal number of fixation pins for minimally invasive cutting guides in computer-navigated arthroplasty has not been determined. The authors hypothesized that more fixation pins will lead to greater mechanical stability and more accurate resections.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 bovine knee joints were divided into three groups with differing numbers of fixation pins. The ASM [Stryker] knee navigation system was utilized to perform resections, and accuracy of alignment and posterior slope was measured. Comparison was performed between the groups to calculate average differences between predicted and actual resection with differing number of pins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference between actual and predicted values showed a trend toward diminishing with a greater number of fixation pins. The mean difference in coronal alignment of predicted versus actual resection was 0.75° for two fixation pins, 0.5° for three pins and 1° for four fixation pins. Similarly, the difference between posterior slope was 2.75°, 2°, and 1°, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals a trend toward greater accuracy of resections with more fixation pins. Further investigation may be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , The Tweed Hospital , Tweed Heads , Australia.
authors.forename: Elliott
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Costa
authors.affiliation: b Tweed Heads Hospital , Tweed Heads , NSW , 2485.
authors.forename: Brahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sivakumar
authors.affiliation: b Tweed Heads Hospital , Tweed Heads , NSW , 2485.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001858:Bone Nails; D002417:Cattle; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted
keywords: arthroplasty; knee; navigation; pins