Frequently Asked Questions about...
ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System

Q. Why should I talk to my surgeon about the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System?
A. Because the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System allows your surgeon to accurately position joint implants according to your body’s structure. And the better the implant is aligned, the faster you can Get Your Life Back on Track. It can help you regain motion almost immediately after surgery. Accurate joint replacement also reduces the implant’s wear, increasing its life and making the prospect of needing the same surgery at a future time less likely.

Q. What are the main factors that lead to successful joint replacement surgery?
A. In a total joint replacement surgery, your surgeon removes an arthritic or damaged joint surfaces and then replaces them with artificial ones. Factors that lead to successful joint replacement include the implantation of a high-quality joint replacement device, a skilled surgeon and a well-supervised rehabilitation program. To improve the success of your joint replacement, you can also elect to have your surgery performed with the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System, one of the most significant advancements in the field of Computer-Assisted Surgery. When the industry-leading ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System technology is combined with a surgeon’s skill, it simplifies the procedure and improves the outcome.

Q. Why is joint alignment important?
A. Joint alignment is important because an accurately aligned implant– with all its parts balanced and correctly positioned relative to your body – creates a smoother distribution of stress on the surfaces and sides of the implant. The more precise the alignment, the less long term wear will occur with your joint replacement, allowing the implant to last for a greater period of time reducing the chance of revision surgery. Accurate alignment can also provide you better mobility and muscle function. And with virtually no stretching or adapting because of accurate joint alignment, patient recovery time is faster and less painful.

Q. If my joint replacement is not accurately aligned, what complications would I experience?
A. When your joints, either at the knee or hip, are inappropriately aligned, the rate of wear increases. Over time, many total joint replacements fail because of premature wear. For example, it can potentially reduce the life of a hip implant by over 20 percent.

A total joint replacement misalignment of only a few degrees can cause increased discomfort and reduce the ability to regain motion. In total hip replacement surgeries, an imprecise alignment increases the risk of complications such as joint dislocation and accelerated wear of implant components, which can potentially lead to revision surgery.

Q. Is surgery with the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System robotic?
A. Surgery with the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System is done by your surgeon – not a robot. Your surgeon performs the operation with numerical data and images from the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System. This information guides your surgeon so that he or she can precisely fit your knee or hip replacement according to the structure of your body. The technology, known as Computer-Assisted Surgery, along with the skill of your surgeon can result in a more perfectly aligned implant.

Q. How does the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System integrate into joint replacement surgery?
A. For total joint replacements, ORTHOsoft™ has designed two systems to better assist your surgeon during the specific surgery you may need, the Navitrack® TotalKnee™ and Navitrack® TotalHip™.

Conceptual representation of Computer-Assisted Surgery using ORTHOsoft's Navitrack® Navigation System

During total joint replacement surgery, the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System is located in the operating room. The System consists of a workstation with computer, software, tracking system, surgical instruments and tracker accessories. The trackers allow the system to locate where bone structures and instruments are in relation to one another. They are placed on the bones of the joints needing replacement so the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System can gather and store all the information regarding your specific body structure, the motion and alignment of your normal anatomy and your alignment at the beginning of surgery. With the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System generated data, your surgeon has the information to assist he or she to create an optimal alignment.

Q. What does my doctor do with ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® TotalKnee™ during knee replacement surgery?
A. In a total knee replacement surgery, your surgeon removes the damaged or worn parts of the knee joint and replaces them with implant components. On an ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® TotalKnee™ workstation screen the image of the main surgical instruments, your bone structures and the knee implants are displayed. This enables your surgeon to perform a more accurate placement of the implant components.

The System gives detailed views of your knee. The resulting data validates every surgical step and allowing the surgeon to confirm that your new knee has been properly placed. The System also shows views of your leg’s range of motion to maximize movement after surgery. The ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® TotalKnee™ System helps your surgeon align your bones and joint implants with a degree of accuracy that previously was not consistently possible with the naked eye.

Q. What is the function of the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® TotalHip™ System during a total hip replacement surgery?
A. During a total hip replacement surgery your doctor removes damaged or worn parts of the hip area, those between the femur and the pelvis, and replaces them with an implant that fits your body.

The ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® TotalHip™ System tracks your bone structures, the main surgical instruments and the hip implants. Displayed on the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® TotalHip™System workstation screen, your surgeon has real-time information and 3-D images of the alignment of the new joint relative to your body. The System also assists your doctor in making sure your legs are the same length after surgery, and enables the surgeon to make optimal joint positioning with a degree of accuracy previously was not consistently possible with the naked eye.

Q. How can the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System help with difficult cases where the anatomy is distorted, such as with abnormal growth, previous fractures, grave traumas, severe wear or serious arthritis?
A. In cases where the anatomy of the body is distorted, using traditional techniques it is especially challenging to find the accurate position to align the implants. The ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System gives your surgeon the added data and real-time imaging information he or she needs to perform a perfect implant alignment on your particular anatomy.

Q. Is the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System compatible with Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Techniques?
A. The ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System facilitates MIS because it acts as an extension of the surgeon’s eyes and hands. It helps surgeons operate more effectively through a smaller incision by providing anatomical guides that may be hidden from normal sight. The ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System gives surgeons the ability to get this data in real-time during surgery, which also results in greater precision for positioning hip and knee implants. Without the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System smaller incisions can reduce a surgeon’s capacity to visualize bone structures, and often make it more difficult to identify correct implant alignment.

Q. Why do surgeons prefer the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System to others systems?
A. The ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation Systems offers:

• Reliable results
• The most user-friendly, Computer-Assisted Surgery technology on the market
• More specific patient information accessible by the surgeons during surgery
• With improved implant placement, faster recovery
• Documented improvement in patient quality of life

Q. How do I find a surgeon in my area that uses the ORTHOsoft™ Navitrack® Navigation System?
A. Visit our Surgeon Locator or call our toll-free information line at 1-888-754-3970.

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