Comparison of optical and electromagnetic tracking protocols in total knee arthroplasty

摘要

Introduction: Electromagnetic tracking is a newer technology that offers the potential of placing small trackers inside of the human body, either with probes or small fixed devices anchored to bone, and using electromagnetic coils to follow the spatial orientation of referenced structures. This method avoids the line of sight requirement for the optical systems, but offers a different set of challenges resulting from ferrous, metallic, and electromagnetic interference that may by typically found in the modern operating room. While recent bench studies have shown excellent accuracy with electromagnetic systems, concern has persisted that these devices may not perform as expected in the clinical setting. We sought to evaluate total knee computer navigation system by utilizing an imageless referencing protocol for target registration, and tracking done with either an optical line-of-sight system or an electromagnetic tracker. All tests were performed in a standard operating room that is typically utilized for total joint arthroplasty.