Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Imageless Computer-Assisted Navigation—2-Year Follow-Up of a Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare computer-assisted to manual implantation-techniques in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to find out if the computer-assisted surgery is able to improve the clinical and functional results and reduce the dislocation rate in short-terms after THA. We performed a concise minimum 2-year follow-up of the patient cohort of a prospective randomized study published in 2014 and evaluated if the higher implantation accuracy in the navigated group can be seen as an important determinant of success in total hip arthroplasty. Although a significant difference was found in mean postoperative acetabular component anteversion and in the outliers regarding inclination and anteversion (p < 0.05) between the computer-assisted and the manual-placed group, we could not find significant differences regarding clinical outcome or revision rates at 2-years follow-up. The implantation accuracy in the navigated group can be regarded as an important determinant of success in THA, although no significant differences in clinical outcome could be detected at short-term follow-up. Therefore, further long-term follow-up of our patient group is needed.