Benefit of Custom Cutting Guides Used in Knee Replacement Surgery Not Proven
November 8, 2014
DALLAS — A study presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) on November 7, 2014 found that custom cutting guide (CCG) technology used in total knee replacement (TKR) surgery did not have an advantage over standard instrumentation used during surgery to guide the surgeon in making cuts to the knee joint.
Denis Nam, MD of St. Louis, Missouri, undertook the study of a group of patients to determine if CCGs improved patients’ outcome two years following their knee replacement surgeries. CCGs are created using molds made from an MRI image taken prior to surgery of the patient’s knee joint. For this study, patients were given the choice of having an MRI prior to surgery and TKR with the CCGs or TKR with standard instrumentation.
Dr. Nam and his co-authors of, “Custom Cutting Guides do not Improve Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes at 2 Year Follow-up” evaluated data of the study group after surgery using standardizing scoring and a patient satisfaction survey. They found “no differences” for range of motion or scores between the group that opted for the CCGs and the group that opted for traditional instrumentation. They also found that patient satisfaction was similar between the groups as well as the presences of symptoms following surgery.
The study concluded that “The benefit of CCGs must be proven prior to continued implementation of this technology.”
The 24th AAHKS Annual Meeting was attended by 1,800 hip and knee surgeons, allied health professionals and industry representatives who took part in scientific sessions and exhibits during the 4-day meeting.
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Established in 1991, the mission of AAHKS is to advance and improve hip and knee patient care through leadership in education, advocacy and research with a vision to be the essential organization of hip and knee specialists, functioning to serve the needs of patients, care providers and policy makers regarding hip and knee health.
Contact:
Denise Smith Rodd
847-698-1200