Surgical knee procedures conducted at St. Remigius Hospital in Opladen
At St. Remigius Hospital, the EndoProsthetics Center of Comprehensive Care is leading the way in the field of endoprosthetics, performing over 100 knee joint replacement operations annually using a computer-controlled navigation system.
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Ralf Decking, Chief of Orthopedics and Endoprothetics, utilizes this technology instead of an OR robot for knee joint operations. The computer-assisted navigation system minimizes the need for additional examinations such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, making the process less burdensome for patients.
The use of computer navigation in endoprosthetics is a key factor in achieving individualized treatment for each patient. The optimal size and three-dimensional position of the implant depend on the unique anatomy, bone structures, and soft tissues of each patient. Computer-assisted navigation allows for precise alignment of the new knee joint with the individual anatomy and ligament tension, which can positively influence both the durability of the artificial joint and the healing process.
Dr. Decking emphasizes operating gently on patients and ensuring quick mobility post-operation. This focus aligns with the goal of achieving optimal results for patients. The goal of endoprosthetic surgery, as stated by Dr. Decking, is to provide patients with a knee joint that feels as natural as possible.
Computer-assisted navigation (CAN) in artificial knee joint implants improves the precision of implant alignment during total knee arthroplasty, reducing alignment errors and potentially enhancing the implant’s longevity and success. This technology enables surgeons to verify and adjust key steps intraoperatively, such as cutting block placement and implant seating, based on 3D models generated during surgery.
While CAN does tend to increase operative time, it increases alignment accuracy and allows real-time intraoperative verification that can help avoid malalignment-related complications. Emerging robotic-assisted techniques also complement this by incorporating haptic feedback and virtual boundaries, further enhancing precision and personalization.
Although direct detailed study results are not explicitly present for St. Remigius Hospital, the principles demonstrated by computer-assisted navigation in knee endoprosthetics likely reflect these broader findings: increased precision in component alignment and restoration of anatomical axes with the computer-assisted method compared to conventional extramedullary or intramedullary guides. For example, studies show that the rate of alignment deviation greater than 3° varus or valgus is significantly lower with computer-assisted navigation (19%) compared with traditional guide methods (36%-38%).
In addition, systems like the iAssist Knee system—which likely represent the kind of computer-assisted technologies used at leading centers such as St. Remigius—have demonstrated achieving a neutral mechanical axis and optimal component position in 95% of cases with an 88% patient satisfaction rate, all while being workflow efficient and cost-effective by eliminating the need for specialized imaging.
While long-term clinical outcome improvements require further study, computer-assisted navigation at St. Remigius Hospital likely enhances precision and increases the success rate of artificial knee joint implants by improving implant alignment accuracy and intraoperative control. The rapid development of phenotyping in medicine is expected to further improve the precision and effectiveness of individualized endoprosthetic treatments.
- The EndoProsthetics Center of Comprehensive Care at St. Remigius Hospital, focusing on medical-conditions like knee-related ones, utilizes computer-assisted navigation systems in science, especially in health-and-wellness areas like endoprosthetics, to achieve individualized treatment for each patient, enhancing the durability and healing process of the artificial joint.
- The use of computer-assisted navigation technology, such as the iAssist Knee system, is anticipated to improve the precision and effectiveness of individualized endoprosthetic treatments, potentially increasing the success rate of artificial knee joint implants at St. Remigius Hospital, contributing to the field of science dedicated to health-and-wellness and medical-conditions management.
