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Fluoroscopy and Imageless Navigation Enable an Equivalent Reconstruction of Leg Length and Global and Femoral Offset in THA

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

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Abstract

Background

Restoration of biomechanics is a major goal in THA. Imageless navigation enables intraoperative control of leg length equalization and offset reconstruction. However, the effect of navigation compared with intraoperative fluoroscopy is unclear.

Questions/purposes

We asked whether intraoperative use of imageless navigation (1) improves the relative accuracy of leg length and global and femoral offset restoration; (2) increases the absolute precision of leg length and global and femoral offset equalization; and (3) reduces outliers in a reconstruction zone of ± 5 mm for leg length and global and femoral offset restoration compared with intraoperative fluoroscopy during minimally invasive (MIS) THA with the patient in a lateral decubitus position.

Methods

In this prospective study a consecutive series of 125 patients were randomized to either navigation-guided or fluoroscopy-controlled THA using sealed, opaque envelopes. All patients received the same cementless prosthetic components through an anterolateral MIS approach while they were in a lateral decubitus position. Leg length, global or total offset (representing the combination of femoral and acetabular offset), and femoral offset differences were restored using either navigation or fluoroscopy. Postoperatively, residual leg length and global and femoral offset discrepancies were analyzed on magnification-corrected radiographs of the pelvis by an independent and blinded examiner using digital planning software. Accuracy was defined as the relative postoperative difference between the surgically treated and the unaffected contralateral side for leg length and offset, respectively; precision was defined as the absolute postoperative deviation of leg length and global and femoral offset regardless of lengthening or shortening of leg length and offset throughout the THA. All analyses were performed per intention-to-treat.

Results

Analyzing the relative accuracy of leg length restoration we found a mean difference of 0.2 mm (95% CI, −1.0 to +1.4 mm; p = 0.729) between fluoroscopy and navigation, 0.2 mm (95 % CI, −0.9 to +1.3 mm; p = 0.740) for global offset and 1.7 mm (95 % CI, +0.4 to +2.9 mm; p = 0.008) for femoral offset. For the absolute precision of leg length and global and femoral offset equalization, there was a mean difference of 1.7 ± 0.3 mm (p < 0.001) between fluoroscopy and navigation. The biomechanical reconstruction with a residual leg length and global and femoral offset discrepancy less than 5 mm and less than 8 mm, respectively, succeeded in 93% and 98%, respectively, in the navigation group and in 54% and 95%, respectively, in the fluoroscopy group.

Conclusions

Intraoperative fluoroscopy and imageless navigation seem equivalent in accuracy and precision to reconstruct leg length and global and femoral offset during MIS THA with the patient in the lateral decubitus position.

Level of Evidence

Level I, therapeutic study. See the Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Regensburg University Medical Center, Asklepios Klinikum Bad Abbach, Kaiser-Karl V.-Allee 3, 93077, Bad Abbach, Germany

    Markus Weber MD, Michael Woerner MD, Robert Springorum MD, Ernst Sendtner MD, Joachim Grifka MD & Tobias Renkawitz MD

  2. Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Alexander Hapfelmeier PhD

Authors
  1. Markus Weber MD
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  2. Michael Woerner MD
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  3. Robert Springorum MD
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  4. Ernst Sendtner MD
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  5. Alexander Hapfelmeier PhD
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  6. Joachim Grifka MD
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  7. Tobias Renkawitz MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Markus Weber MD.

Additional information

The institution of one or more of the authors (MW, MW, RS, ES, JG, TR) has received funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, project number 01EZ091.

All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

This work was performed at Regensburg University Medical Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bad Abbach, Germany.

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Weber, M., Woerner, M., Springorum, R. et al. Fluoroscopy and Imageless Navigation Enable an Equivalent Reconstruction of Leg Length and Global and Femoral Offset in THA. Clin Orthop Relat Res 472, 3150–3158 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3740-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-014-3740-5

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