MedStar Franklin Square now offers computer-guided knee replacement surgery to improve accuracy in knee replacement surgery.

An infrared camera, computer and software provides the surgeon with real-time, patient-specific information during surgery.

How it works

• The surgeon positions several small transmitters on the patient’s leg.
• An infrared camera tracks the movement of the transmitters and relays the information to the computer.
• The computer analyzes the positions to create an anatomic drawing of the knee in real time, with relevant axes, angles and distances.
• Through a graphic display, the computer helps guide the surgeon through cuts, bones and implant alignment and positioning.

“In the past we could only tell if the alignment was off by getting a postoperative X-ray. By that time, the only option was to reoperate,” said David Gold, MD, director of the Joint Institute. “The bottom line is that using a computer to assist in total knee replacement surgery can make a good surgeon even better and therefore likely improve the long term outcome for the patient.”