Computer Guided Shoulder Replacement

Computer navigation technique is the latest revolution in orthopaedic surgery. This technology is used for replacement of arthritic joint.

Computer navigation provides the surgeon with the real time 3-D images of the mapped patients affected joint and the surgical instruments during surgery. The data for the images is provided by the infrared sensors fixed to the bones of the joint and the surgical instruments. Their position is tracked by an infrared camera placed above the surgical table connected to the computer. The computer than generates the real time images with the help of the appropriate software to guide the surgeon to precisely resurface and cut the bones of the joint and fix the implant precisely & accurately according to the pre-operative surgical plan. Thus, the surgery is done by the surgeon only. Computer navigation is just a tool to guide the surgeon and improve the outcome of the surgery. It cannot replace the skills of an experienced surgeon.

The life of the implant can be extended by precise alignment of the implant and this can be achieved by the use of computer navigation for total joint replacement surgery.