NAVIO* Total knee replacement

Total Knee Surgery utilising the NAVIO* Robotic-assisted Surgical System

In total knee replacement, the entire knee joint is replaced with a prosthetic implant designed to replicate the shape, motion and stability of your natural knee joint. Total knee replacement is one of the most common procedures performed in all of medicine, with over 600,000 performed in the U.S. every year. Ninety percent of people who receive a total knee  replacement experience a dramatic decrease in knee pain, and an improvement in their ability to perform daily activities.1 

The NAVIO Surgical System delivers robotics-assisted tools designed to help tailor your knee replacement surgery to the unique shape and motion of your knee.

Robotics-assisted knee replacement planning with the NAVIO System 

The total knee replacement procedure starts with your unique anatomy in mind. By the time your procedure is complete, the damaged bones and cartilage within your knee joint will be removed and replaced with new implant components. Each of these implant components must fit precisely and be aligned to your natural anatomy if they are to provide you with the best outcome possible. The challenge of aligning your implant and preparing your bones to accept it can be complex, invasive and time consuming because no two knee joints are exactly the same. 

The NAVIO Surgical System is designed to help your surgeon not only plan your surgery based on your unique anatomy, but also position your total knee implant using a combination of computer and robotic assistance. The NAVIO procedure starts with an advanced computer system that gathers precise anatomic (body structure) and alignment information about your joint that your surgeon will use to create your specific surgical plan. 

This extra layer of data collection and planning is designed to help ensure your knee procedure is performed exactly as your surgeon intends and that your implant is positioned as accurately as possible for the best long-term outcome.

NAVIO Planning

Total Knee Replacement Surgery without rods 

NAVIO Surgical SystemAnother method that can be used to determine the anatomic alignment of your new implants uses long, metal devices called intramedullary (IM) rods that are drilled into the central canal of the bone to show the alignment of the knee in relation to the hip. These rods are then used to attach the cutting guides necessary to guide the surgeon's saw blade as it shapes the bones to accept the new implants. 

Because the NAVIO system has already gathered the anatomic alignment information about your knee, it eliminates the need for IM rods. Instead, your  surgeon will use the system's handheld robotics-assisted tool (the NAVIO hand piece) to accurately position the NAVIO-specific cut guides which are held in place with a few small pins instead of the IM rod. This process leaves the central canal of your bone untouched. 

Implant alignment is a crucial factor in determining how long the implant will last 2, 3

NAVIO brings robotics-assisted precision to total knee surgery

After removing the cutting guides, the prosthetic knee implants are implanted, and your knee is checked to make sure it moves and is balanced correctly. It is important to understand that  the NAVIO system doesn’t replace your surgeon. The procedure remains in the skilled hands of your surgeon, with the NAVIO system providing extra layers of planning, accuracy and precision. 

Download the NAVIO Robotic-assisted total knee replacement brochure.

 Watch a video on NAVIO Robotic-assisted knee surgery. 

 

Disclaimer

Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure including NAVIO enabled Knee Replacement. NAVIO is not for everyone. Children, pregnant women, patients who have mental or neuromuscular disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis) that do not allow control of the knee joint, and morbidly obese (overweight) patients and patients contraindicated (not advised) for UKR (unicondylar knee replacement), PFA (patellofemoral arthroplasty) and TKA (total knee replacement) should not undergo a NAVIO procedure. Consult your surgeon for details to determine if NAVIO is right for you. 

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon website, accessed March 7, 2017 http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00389 

2. Collier, Matthew, et al., "Patient, Implant, and Alignment Factors Associated With Revision of Medial Compartment Unicondylar Arthroplasty.", Jour of Arthro, Vol 21 No 6, Suppl. 2, 2006.

3. Hernigou, Ph, Deschamps, G., "Alignment Influences Wear in the Knee after Medial Unicompartmental Arthroplasty.", Clin Orthop Relat Res., Volume 423, June 2004, pp 161-165