OBJECTIVE: Aiming to evaluate whether surgery aided navigation offers any advantages over the conventional technique, a randomized, prospective, comparative study was carried out, analyzing the placement of components, alignment of the limb, surgical time, blood loss and functional rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 39 patients submitted42 Total Knee Arthroplasties. In group 1 (n = 21) the surgery was navigated and in group 2 (n = 21) it was conventional. The patients were evaluated on panoramic radiographs of the lower limbs, CT scan and the Knee Society Score (KSS) preoperatively and three months postoperatively. Surgery time and postoperative blood loss were also evaluated. RESULTS: Surgery time was longer in group 1. There was no significant difference in blood loss and the KSS. There was a greater proximity of the three degrees of external rotation and the five degrees of tilt in the coronal in group 2. The mechanical axis was closer to zero degree in group CONCLUSIONS: Navigation promotes individualizing of the positioning of the components of the prosthesis, and offered advantages in limb realignment, compared with traditional methods. The surgerytime has a tendency to be higher in group 2, but this difference is not statistically significant. There were no differences between the groups in relation to blood loss and improvement in KSS. Level of Evidence: Level I, therapeutic studies.
Arthroplasty, eplacement, knee; Surgery, computer-assisted; Knee prosthesis
