Richard W. Vanis, MD

Procedures & Services: Computer Assisted Navigation (CAS)

Dr. Vanis began using Computer Navigation in 2003. Stryker Navigation technology uses special tracking devices, providing your surgeon a comprehensive understanding of your joint mechanics in the operating room (OR). Armed with this information, your surgeon can make adjustments within a fraction of a degree, helping to ensure your new joint has the stability and range of motion needed for a successful replacement. Specifically, the technology uses the latest advancements in science and computer engineering to make the procedure more accurate than joint surgery without it. The surgeon moves an instrument within your joint, special infrared trackers calculate its position and wireless instruments instantaneously transfer the data to a computer in the OR. This information is then displayed on a monitor as an interactive model of the anatomy or "blueprint" that supplies the surgeon with all the angles, lines and measurements of your unique anatomy. The surgeon will then replace the diseased bone with new, artificial joint components often called prostheses or implants. Joint implants are engineered to replicate a normal, healthy joint.

With certain techniques, your surgeon may use pins that hold trackers around the incision site of your joint. These temporary placeholders give the computer key information and may make the surgery even more exact, but it does mean the possibility of additional scarring at the pin points. Emerging technologies and alternative techniques may reduce the number of incisions and therefore reduce scarring.

Potential Advantages of CAS are:

• Enables the surgeon to create accurate and reproducible bone cuts helping to ensure accurate placement of Total Knee Implants.
• Vital for complex Total Knee Replacements when unusual bone deformities are present.
• Valuable tool when performing revision total knee replacement.
• Greatly reduces possibility of component mal-positioning.

Potential Disadvantages of CAS are:

• Cost to the patient of CAS up to $500 more due to an additional surgeon fee incurred for the professional expertise component (CPT code 20985).
• Time in operating room could be longer due to setup, calibration and usage of computer.
• Computer or tracker malfunction could require conversion to traditional total knee instruments
  (occurs rarely).