The majority of adverse events associated with CNTKA were minor and comparable with those seen with conventional TKA .
Clinical outcomes were comparable between the two techniques , with longer-term follow-up suggesting that CNTKA provided no benefit over conventional TKA in terms of sustained functional improvements .
At present , it is unclear whether the significant improvements shown in radiological outcomes after CNTKA translate to measurable clinical benefits .
BACKGROUND Conventional total knee arthroplasty ( TKA ) and the more recently available computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty ( CNTKA ) use alternative methods to achieve correct limb alignment .
This systematic review was undertaken to assess the safety and effectiveness of CNTKA compared with conventional TKA .
Embolic phenomena during computer-assisted and conventional total knee replacement.
Systemic emboli released during  total knee replacement  have been implicated as a cause of peri-operative morbidity and neurological dysfunction . We undertook a prospect i ve , double-blind , r and omised study to compare the cardiac embolic load sustained during computer-assisted and conventional , intramedullary-aligned , total knee replacement , as measured by transoesophageal echocardiography . There were 26 consecutive procedures performed by a single surgeon at a single hospital . The embolic load was scored using the modified Mayo grading system for echogenic emboli .  Fourteen patients undergoing computer-assisted total knee replacement  had a mean embolic score of 4.89 ( 3 to 7 ) and 12 undergoing conventional total knee replacement  had a mean embolic score of 6.15 ( 4 to 8) on release of the tourniquet . Comparison of the groups using a two-tailed t-test confirmed a highly significant difference ( p = 0.004 ) . This study demonstrates that computer-assisted knee replacement results in the release of significantly fewer systemic emboli than the conventional procedure using intramedullary alignment
The majority of adverse events associated with CNTKA were minor and comparable with those seen with conventional TKA .
Clinical outcomes were comparable between the two techniques , with longer-term follow-up suggesting that CNTKA provided no benefit over conventional TKA in terms of sustained functional improvements .
At present , it is unclear whether the significant improvements shown in radiological outcomes after CNTKA translate to measurable clinical benefits .
BACKGROUND Conventional total knee arthroplasty ( TKA ) and the more recently available computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty ( CNTKA ) use alternative methods to achieve correct limb alignment .
This systematic review was undertaken to assess the safety and effectiveness of CNTKA compared with conventional TKA .