Zimmer Computer Assisted Surgery techniques combine advanced computer technology with a surgeon's skills to help improve the outcomes of knee and hip replacement surgery.
CAS, also known as Surgical Navigation, is defined as a surgery that is performed using a computer as a guiding and validation tool. The same way a car navigation system guides a driver from point A to point B, Zimmer's surgical navigation system provides the surgeon with important information during a surgery.
The system provides precise positional guidance when removing damaged surfaces of bones, based on a patient's anatomy, and suggests the appropriate implant size to be used and helps to determine its correct positioning.
Benefits of Surgical Navigation for Knee and Hip Replacements
In addition to assisting the surgeon's intra-operative decisions
during a hip or a knee replacement procedure, Zimmer CAS system can
offer a number of additional benefits, including:
- Smaller incisions and increased visibility during the
procedure to help achieve:
- Less pain and a shorter recovery time for the patient1
- Shorter hospital stay1,2
- Less scarring1,3 (5.1 inches to 3.5 inches)
- Less invasive
techniques which are associated with:
- Reduced bleeding and transfusion rates3,13
- Reduced risk of emboli during a knee replacement5
- Less disruption of tissue6
It has been shown that surgical navigation can help to provide a more accurate alignment7,8,9, of the implanted joint that can enhance its overall function8,10. This, in turn, should provide the patient with:
- A longer lasting implant8,10
- A reduced risk of dislocation after hip replacement8
The accuracy of implant positioning through the Zimmer CAS System should also help reduce the risk of leg length discrepancy11,12 that can cause limping after a hip replacement.
If you and your surgeon have explored all non-surgical treatments for your joint problems, a partial or a total knee or hip replacement can help you relieve your pain and get you back to living an active life.