Intraoperative Technology Use Improves Accuracy of Functional Safe Zone Targeting in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract

Targets of acetabular inclination and anteversion have been suggested based on a patient's spinopelvic mobility. Current methods in total hip arthroplasty (THA) include manual instrumentation, computer-assisted navigation, and robotic-assisted surgery. This study aims to compare the accuracy of these 3 methods in targeting the functional safe zone. This is a prospective multicenter study including a series of 251 consecutive primary posterior THA patients from April 2019 to January 2021. Preoperative lateral standing and sitting spinopelvic radiographs were obtained. Each patient was classified using the Hip-Spine Classification. A functional safe zone plan was determined. Surgeons used their preferred method (manual instrumentation, computer-assisted, or robotic-assisted). Postoperative anteversion and inclination was measured and compared to the preoperative plan. Mean differences between preoperative and postoperative values were calculated. Welch's t-test was used to assess significant between-group differences with P < .05 considered significant. Of the 249 patients, there were 63 manual instrumentation, 68 computer-assisted navigation, and 118 robotic-assisted surgery. Robotic-assisted surgery (rTHA) was significantly more accurate in targeting anteversion (1±2) compared to manual instrumentation (mTHA; 7±6, P < .001) and computer-assisted navigation (cTHA; 6±6, P < .001). rTHA was also significantly more accurate in targeting inclination (1±1) compared to mTHA (8±7, P < .001) and cTHA (6±7, P < .001). Although cTHA had greater accuracy in targeting both inclination and anteversion compared to mTHA, these differences were not statistically significant. Robotic-assisted surgery was more accurate than both computer-assisted navigation and manual instrumentation in targeting the functional safe zone in primary THA. Further research is needed to evaluate the effect of improved accuracy on dislocation rates.