Computer Assisted Knee Surgery in Singapore: Procedure, Risks & Recovery

While the same types of prosthesis used in non-CAS procedures are used during computer guided knee surgery, tools for Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery (CAOS), also known as Surgical Navigation or Image Guided Surgery, are widely and routinely used today.

These tools include 3D image-guided and non-image-based navigation systems, intraoperative visualisation devices, and robotics. Navigation systems may also be used prior to surgery to collect patient data that will help the surgeon prepare for the procedure itself.

Patient-matched instrumentation may also be used before surgery where software is used to plan the entire procedure to help ensure that the process goes smoothly. This instrumentation takes exact measurements of the bones to calculate the exact size of the prosthesis to be implanted.

During surgery, a camera captures images of the knee, while software integrates the images with data such as anatomic landmarks of the knee and leg for the surgeon’s guidance. Both actual and virtual images may be used.

The accelerometer is another CAS tool which detects motion and velocity, and allows electronic devices, including those used in medicine to track orientation as well as movement. The usefulness of accelerometer-based navigation systems in knee surgery has been shown in a study which also acknowledges the systems’ accuracy and the significantly less blood loss involved in their use.

Although CAS increases accuracy during surgery, there is still the possibility of errors such as those in the computer and tracking system when placing markers. Overlying cartilage and soft tissue might cause the bone to be missed, and the navigation might malfunction if there is dirt on the camera or reflectors.

Inaccuracies might also occur in situations where the pins holding the trackers in place may move, such as when the patient has severe osteopenia. Since the cutting guides alone are navigated during surgery, the surgeon might make an error by bending the saw blade while re-sectioning the bone.

Though the bone re-sectioning may be accurate, varying degrees of thickness in applying the surgical cement might lead to overall misalignment.

CAS also bears the risk of blood loss, femur or tibia fractures and fat embolism due to the placement of alignment rods and arrays. Drills and pins used during the procedure may likewise break. And because CAS extends the procedure time by up to 20 minutes, the prolonged exposure increases the risk of infection.

There is also the risk of delayed recovery in the quadriceps or the muscles in front of the thigh because of femoral array placement. Note, however, that complications arising from using CAOS are very rare.

When considering computer guided knee surgery, bear in mind that CAOS is still evolving and studies of the full extent of its capabilities and possible complications are still being conducted. The time and care you would spend on choosing a surgeon for a delicate procedure therefore doubles when it comes to choosing a CAS-proficient surgeon.

Find out whether the surgeon you have in mind has the necessary experience and training in the use of CAOS systems. The orthopaedic surgeon must likewise be able to forego the use of CAOS in the event of a sudden glitch or computer error during the procedure.

If patient-matched instrumentation is to be used, a standing X-ray of your knee will have to be taken along with an MRI scan. This enables the creation of an actual model of your bones which will guide the surgeon in removing the exact amount of bone during surgery, which in turn helps to ensure correct alignment.

Meantime, get in touch with the physical therapist you will be working with after surgery and focus on exercises that will strengthen your core and increase your range of motion. Make sure you take in enough protein to help your body deal with the stress of surgery and to help lower the risk of infection.

If you are anxious about your upcoming procedure, talk to your surgeon about the possibility of taking medication to help you relax, or try meditation.

People who have undergone CAS are usually up and about on the very same day, which already goes a long way towards facilitating the healing process. Commit to physical therapy after the procedure and make time for it with a consistent schedule. Biking and swimming are recommended as you work on building muscle strength in your upper body as well as your legs. Also pay careful attention to your post-surgery nutrition by increasing your intake of water and protein.

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is not right. Don’t just brush it off and risk the chance of compromising your movement and interupting your daily activities. Get it checked today for the right intervention the soonest possible time. Book your appointment with Dr. Dutton, here.

This is a type of arthroplasty that takes the guesswork out of surgery by using computer imaging to assure precision during a knee replacement procedure. It also uses the aid of a real-time infrared-based tracking system which can ensure alignment and soft-tissue balance – two key components of a successful knee replacement.

This technology provides the surgeon with the capacity to properly visualise surgical areas even through small incisions without sacrificing precision. Rather, it refines the process of a minimally invasive approach as validated in thousands of cases.

This approach is for patients with retained hardware from the treatment of a previous fracture of the leg. In patients with previously retained hardware, traditional knee replacement would require the removal prior to performing the procedure. But, in computer-guided technique, surgery and hardware removal can be avoided.

This approach is for patients with retained hardware from the treatment of a previous fracture of the leg. In patients with previously retained hardware, traditional knee replacement would require the removal prior to performing the procedure. But, in computer-guided technique, surgery and hardware removal can be avoided.

It is also beneficial for younger patients, where precision can help avoid revisions in knee replacement later on in life. With our daily function dependent on well-coordinated motions that are hinged on precision, we should never settle for anything less once replacements are needed.

Not all practitioners are trained and experienced in computer-assisted surgery. So, if this type of technology is what you look for in your knee replacement procedure, make sure that you choose a practitioner with the capacity for this type of approach. The technology available may make things easier while maintaining its minimally invasive nature, but it also requires the necessary expertise.