Gait analysis following TKA: comparison of conventional technique, computer-assisted navigation and minimally invasive technique combined with computer-assisted navigation

There are questions concerning the influence of computer-assisted surgery and the minimal invasive surgical technique on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty. The authors followed up the rehabilitation of patients during the first postoperative year. The ZEBRIS gait analysis system was used to obtain numerical data of kinetic and kinematic gait parameters. There were three groups of patients: patients operated by the conventional technique (Group I), patients operated on using computer-assisted surgery (Group II), and patients who underwent the surgical procedure by a minimally invasive technique and computer-assisted surgery (Group III). Both groups consisted of 15 patients. Gait analysis was performed preoperatively and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the surgery. The range of motion of the pelvis, the hip and the knee, the step width and the stride length were measured during walking. Results were compared with the parameters measured in a group of healthy subjects of the same age (control group). The value of the measured parameters in Group I and in Group II reached the value of the control group 6 months after surgery. In Group III, this occurred 3 months after surgery. The results of the study confirm that navigation does not influence the length of rehabilitation. However, in case of minimal invasive surgery, rehabilitation is faster than in Groups I and II.