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POST OPERATIVE OXYGEN SATURATIONS IN COMPUTER NAVIGATED TOTAL KNEE JOINT REPLACEMENTS

Gartnaval General Hospital, Glasgow G12 OYN, UK

The aim of this work was to compare the oxygen saturations in patients in the early period following total knee joint replacement surgery performed using either computer navigation or conventional intramedullary mechanical jigs.

Between August and November 2007 twelve consecutive patients who had computer navigated total knee joint replacements were prospectively reviewed. A comparison group from the same period was made of twenty patients who had knee replacements performed with conventional jigs in this same period. Non-invasive oxygen saturations were measured and recorded as a percentage. Preoperative oxygen saturations measured at the assessment clinic were used a baseline. For the duration of the patients postoperative hospital stay oxygen saturations were measured five times a day as well as their oxygen requirements.

We found that the patients in the computer navigation group on average reached oxygen saturation levels on air equal to those measured in the assessment earlier than the intramedullary jig group (2.2 days versus 2.8 days). There was also a lower need for oxygen and shorter length of stay in the computer navigated group during this early post operative period (4.6 versus 6.0 days).

Previous studies using transcranial Doppler and transoesophageal echocardiograms have shown a reduction of systemic emboli with computer navigated total knee joint replacements. Using oxygen saturation monitoring we have shown there may be a considerable clinical advantage using computer navigated surgery over conventional intramedullary jigs in knee replacement surgery.

Correspondence should be addressed to Mr K Deep, General Secretary CAOS UK, Dept of Orthopaedics, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow G81 4HX, Scotland. Email: caosuk{at}gmail.com