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Despite limited work capacity, restricted daily activities and reduced mobility that are often accompanied with use a variety of painkillers, patients who need a knee or hip replacement to regain full mobility always want to address their concerns on the outcome of the operation and the length of the rehabilitation phase before surgery.

In AIWA Clinic, highly qualified specialists in traumatology and orthopaedics can dispel the patients’ anxiety, as they use the OrthoView software for assistance. It could be called a relatively new tool that facilitates and supports the surgeon in the operation planning process.

“The software is an excellent assistant to the surgeon in the process of preparation of surgery for the replacement of hip or knee affected by deforming arthrosis.

At first, the surgeon examines the patient, identifies diagnosis and recommends surgery. However, before the operation, it is necessary to perform a special X-ray of the joint. Then, the obtained image data can be entered in a special software.

The OrthoView software allows accurate planning of the surgery, performing it first in the virtual environment. When going to the OR, the surgeon has already performed every planned detail and has a complete confidence in the operation,” says Wissam Raphael, orthopaedic surgeon of the Polyclinic VCA Pulss and AIWA Clinic.

Measure twice

The OrthoView software makes it possible to accurately measure the angle of the patient’s femur and lower leg, which is different for each person, because, for example, as a result of an injury, the bone may be skewed.

“Using these measurements, it is possible to find out exactly where the bone should be cut. As the proverb says – measure twice, cut once. Here, the OrthoView software allows to do it virtually and to find out both where the bone should be cut and what is the most suitable size of the endoprosthesis,” explains the surgeon.

During the operation, the surgeon makes sure how accurate are the measurements made on the computer.

Identifying size

The specialized software of this kind with its opportunities significantly facilitates the work of the surgeon. “It is not possible to assure that the data obtained on the size of the prosthesis required for the patient will always correspond perfectly to the standard size of the endoprosthesis (they are different – from Size 2 to Size 6). Minor discrepancies can be allowed and can be related to the aspects of the X-ray imaging, such as how the X-ray beam can access the bone.

Specialist in traumatology and orthopaedics Wissam Raphael says that the accuracy of a certain size is not crucial. “It is possible to find out which size of prosthesis to focus on, still, it must be considered that, in reality, the required size may differ. For example, I focus on Size 3, but usually I also keep prepared prosthesis of Size 2.5 and Size 4 in my OR.”

Angle matters

The most important thing to find out using the software is the angle. If a line is drawn down from the centre of the hip joint, it must cross the centre of the knee joint and then the centre of the foot joint – the line must be perfectly straight.

“If this is the case, the patient feels good after the operation, and nothing interferes with his/her movements. There must be no deviation from this straight line. In case of a deviation, the patient will have problems – pain and other complaints. That’s why it’s so important to have accurate measurements before the surgery.”

May the prosthesis last long!

The possibilities of the OrthoView used by the surgeon allow to significantly improve the quality of the prosthesis insertion and thus – its service life. The more precisely it is placed, the longer a person will be able to live with it without being limited in their desire of full mobility.

“The software allows the surgeon to be much safer about what he is doing, while the patient can be sure to get not only a nice x-ray image showing that the endoprosthesis has replaced the old, worn joint, but also the opportunity to feel really well with the new joint prosthesis,” says Wissam Raphael.

The surgeon will do the best, however, the further recovery process will depend on the efforts the patient will be willing to invest in rehabilitation.