Navigazione TC guidata nella protesizzazione dell’anca

Aim. With this study we describe our personal experience with computed tomography (CT)-guided navigation in hip replacement. Navigation is done with a computer system that orientates the surgeon during the operation by providing a continuous visual flow of three dimensional anatomic and numeric data. Methods. Since 2001, this technique has been employed in total hip replacement in 60 patients. All patients underwent postoperative CT; the real accuracy of the CT-guided technique versus the conventional procedure in positioning the cup prosthesis was compared (mean error, 3.9°, range, 0-8°). Controls were 95 total hip replacement patients evaluated by postoperative CT (mean error 6°, range, 0-23°). Results. CT-guided navigation improved the accuracy of cup prosthesis placement, as demonstrated by case-control studies conducted at our institution. Conclusion. Although the use of CT-guided navigation achieved greater accuracy in placement of the acetabular cup, whether or not the technique is clinically effective still needs to be corroborated by long-term data and in comparison with the optimum results surgical techniques can achieve without the auxiliary use of navigation.