ETMC Tyler adds ortho surgery navigation system for pinpoint accuracy

A new system is providing knee replacement surgery patients with state-of-the-art accuracy in the ETMC Tyler surgery department. When patients undergo knee replacement surgery with the Ci™ System from DePuy, a Johnson & Johnson company, surgeons now have a 3-dimensional view of the knee joint.

The system offers detailed data to help them more precisely align implants during knee replacement procedures, regardless of the size of the incision. "Our goal when we began expanding and enhancing our surgery suites was to implement the most innovative technologies available for our surgeons and patients," said Troy Thibodeaux, vice president of operations.

Clear view of bone structure
The Ci™ System was selected for the orthopedic operating room because of its ability to help provide greater precision and accuracy of joint placement. Using integrated components - software, hardware and instruments - the Ci™ System provides real-time, three-dimensional images of the individual patient's anatomy that aren't easily visible through an incision. As a result, surgeons using the system have a clear view of the bone structure and detailed information to assist with alignment of the implants during surgery.

Positive outcomes
"Use of the system has been shown to provide more accurate limb alignment after surgery," Thibodeaux said, citing a study in The Journal of Arthroplasty, January 2005 issue. The journal reported that a study over a 26-month period which studied 30 patients consistently showed better outcomes with image-based computer-assisted surgeries over surgeries without computer navigation.

"This will be a very positive advancement for our patients and orthopedic surgeons at ETMC," Thibodeaux said.