Computer-Assisted Surgery

Replacing diseased hip joints with prosthetic implants in a procedure called total hip arthroplasty (THA) is associated with high rates of patient satisfaction, pain relief, and functional improvement when the implant is appropriately placed. Incorrect implant size or placement may lead to a breadth of negative outcomes, which could result in the need for implant revision. It is difficult to assess the precise orientation of patient hips on the operating table, with one study revealing that only 26% of acetabular cups placed without technological assistance are correctly positioned. Using computer navigation as a guide to achieve optimal implant alignment may improve successful placement rates. The additional incorporation of real-time modeling software may further help realize higher rates of successful implant placement. This study, therefore, aims to investigate a computer navigation system coupled with real-time modeling software to establish the benefit of such technology in the operating room, and further improve positive patient outcomes following THA. We hypothesize that including technological assistance in THAs will yield better patient outcomes compared to surgeries performed freehand.