GPS

GPS-like technology used for surgery

 BANGALORE: Something on the lines of the much-in-vogue GPS technology has found its way to hospital corridors where it's being used for knee-replacement surgeries. The technology ensures higher precision, minimal complications, reduced blood loss and perfect alignment errors, say doctors.

On Wednesday, Fortis Hospital organized a live surgery workshop on computer-navigated knee replacements for over 50 orthopaedics. So far, Fortis has seen 17 knee-replacement surgeries using this method.

Manual measurement of the bone in the muscle can be relative and inaccurate, said Dr Narayan Hulse, consultant orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon at Fortis who operated on two patients on Wednesday.

Homemaker Anjana Devi, 53, from Tumkur underwent a total knee replacement. "I don't know much about the new technology that'll be used for the operation. But it's intriguing to know that a computer can gauge my pain. All I wish is to get rid of this knee pain that's almost rendered me immobile," she said before entering the operation theatre.

Doctors recalled the unique case of a 55-year-old bank manager from Hassan, whose right knee bone bent after he met with an accident. "No stent or rod inserted can measure a bent knee. We used the computer navigation technique to know the exact angle in alignment and positioning of the implant," said Dr Hulse.

How it works: Surgeon uses a computer to deter mine the spatial location of conventional instruments, and to provide positional feedback regarding their use. With infrared signals and a special pointing device, the precise angle of the thigh and knee can be seen on the screen; trackers are attached to the patient and the instruments. Display screen feeds the surgeon with a map of the knee area and its real-time measurements.

Computer-navigated knee-replacement surgery allows the surgeon to make more accurate cuts on the thigh and knee joint, while placing an artificial knee with its critical angles. "We have seen cases where one degree or half a degree of critical angles were missed, leading to faulty alignment. This is something we can easily overcome now," said Dr Hulse.