Aesculap: 100% Survivorship at Five-Years

Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC has announced its sponsorship of a clinical study focused on furthering the science of navigated total knee arthroscopy (TKA) as a proven method for improved alignment accuracy and reproducibility of the surgical technique. Aesculap Implant Systems OrthoPilot Navigation System and the Columbus Knee System were featured in the study that showed a 100% survivorship at five years post-op when compared with other non-navigated TKA.

The Columbus Navigated TKA Clinical Study states that the major factors for a favorable long-term clinical and functional outcome after conventional TKA are based on correct implant positioning and restoration of the mechanical axis and soft tissue balancing to reduce aseptic loosening. The use of computer-assisted tools for TKA allows more accurate and reproducible positioning and alignment of TKA components compared with conventional techniques.

The researchers set out to analyze data from a minimum five-year follow-up of navigated TKA to determine the intra-operative alignment and stability measurements, the functional outcomes and survival rates of high-flexion, high-conformity unresurfaced patella TKA and the range of motion (ROM) of the high-flexion TKA system during the study period.

The Columbus Navigated TKA study is a retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive patients who received primary patella-sparing TKA. At five years post-op, mid-term TKA survival rate, clinical and radiological outcomes, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain and satisfaction scores were analyzed. Some key study findings were:

• The results at five years revealed a component revision rate of 0% compared with other non-navigated TKAs (2.8% revision rate)
• Mean KSS and OKI scores improved by more than 45%
• VAS scores improved and final mean VAS satisfaction scores had 91% of patients with scores in the good to excellent range
• The authors used navigation tools to keep the components aligned in the mechanical axis of 0° ±1.14° in all cases with stable balanced soft tissue

The key finding of the study showed a 100% survivorship at five-years post-op when compared with other non-navigated TKA. The study also revealed an improved ROM from 95º preoperatively to 110º postoperatively.

Uta Giordano, director of Orthopaedic Marketing for Aesculap, told OTW, “The results of this study confirm that the Columbus Knee System used in conjunction with the OrthoPilot Navigation System improve alignment accuracy and reproducibility of the total knee arthroplasty surgical technique. Our goal is to use these clinical results to improve patient outcomes with this solution.”