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 .
Alignments and Clinical Results in Conventional and Navigated Total Knee Arthroplasty
In this prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled study , we compared the performance of conventional and navigated total knee arthroplasties .  Component alignment was measured in 60 patients operated on using navigation and in 60 patients operated on using the conventional technique .  The groups then were divided into a sub population to measure alignments of the distal femoral cuts in the three anatomic planes , the proximal tibial cut in the frontal and sagittal planes , and the result ing lower limb mechanical axis in the frontal plane . Postoperative weightbearing long-view radiographs  were evaluated as were clinical results using three st and ard question naires at 28 months followup . The intraoperative measurements ( mean ± st and ard deviation ) at the resection planes showed navigated surgeries result in more accurate alignments than conventional surgeries for the femur : in the frontal plane , 0.1 ° ± 0.9 ° and 0.7 ° ± 1.6 ° valgus , respectively ; in the sagittal plane , 1.1 ° ± 1.8 ° and 2.8 ° ± 2.0 ° flexion ; and in the transversal plane , 0.1 ° ± 1.2 ° and 0.9 ° ± 1.7 ° internal rotation . The navigated technique also reduced the number of cases with final mechanical axes greater than 3 ° from 20.0 % to 1.7 % . Postoperative radiographs showed better component alignment using navigation , particularly at the femur . However , clinical scoring systems showed this radiographic improvement did not necessarily result in a better clinical outcome at short-term followup . Level of Evidence : Level I , therapeutic study . See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of level of evidence
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 .