Surgical Navigation Technology: A New Chapter in Orthopaedic Surgery

with Michael Anderson, M.D.; Bill Smith, M.D.; James Stiehl, MD.; with Columbia St. Mary’s

Last Updated: Nov. 1, 2003

Columbia St. Mary’s is one of the first health care systems in Wisconsin to use surgical navigation – or computer-assisted joint replacement technology – for orthopaedic surgery.

Surgical navigation, which began at Columbia St. Mary’s in September, 2003, is an innovative technology that adds a new dimension to orthopaedic surgery. The first 10 cases were performed in September by orthopaedic surgeons Michael Anderson, M.D., and James Stiehl, M.D. (The first hip surgery using surgical navigation was performed September 25, 2003. This may be the first in the nation.)

James Stiehl, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon, Columbia St. Mary's "The comparison between previous surgical techniques and surgical navigation is akin to the difference between the slide rule and the calculator."

Surgical navigation involves the use of a computer and sensors placed over a patient’s bones. The sensors allow surgeons to “see” a patient’s joint during the surgery and more accurately determine the best placement of knee or hip implants. “Surgical navigation uses three-dimensional computer guidance during surgery to help the surgeon align joint replacement implants better,” said Dr. Anderson.

Dr. Smith compared surgical navigation to the global positioning satellite (GPS) systems that help pilots and drivers navigate. “It is like having a GPS in the operating room, but instead of moving off of a satellite, you move off of cameras right in the operating room,” he said.

Surgical navigation will be especially important for difficult joint replacement cases, Dr. Anderson explained. Cases in which patients have an abnormal bone structure or previous surgeries make it difficult for doctors to perfectly align the new joints in surgeries because the normal markers are not there. “It helps take the guesswork out of surgery,” Dr. Anderson said.

The new technology will increase the success rate of implants, and it will allow patients to enjoy the longest possible wear of their implants, Dr. Stiehl said. “Computer-assisted surgical navigation marks a new chapter in patient care,” he added.

Surgical navigation also will allow for more minimally invasive surgeries. “You can use much smaller instruments and make shorter incisions,” Dr. Smith said. “You don’t necessarily have to see where the joint will be placed because the computer has the reference points. This should allow for less invasive surgery and provide a more consistent surgical result.”

Dr. Smith said that this technology has been used in Europe. Only about a dozen places nationwide are using surgical navigation, and it is mostly found in academic settings where testing of the software is being practiced.

We Have Answers Do you have medical questions or need help finding a doctor? The experts at Columbia St. Mary's and Advanced Healthcare can help. Click here.