Accelerometer-Based, Portable Navigation (KneeAlign) vs Conventional Instrumentation for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Comparative Trial

BackgroundAccelerometer-based, portable navigation devices have been introduced as a less invasive and simpler technique to perform navigated surgical implantation of knee prostheses. They have been postulated to have better accuracy than conventional instruments in restoration of alignment in total knee arthroplasty.MethodsA total of 190 patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized controlled trial and underwent total knee arthroplasty using either the KneeAlign or conventional guides. Multiplanar alignment was evaluated with a CT imaging protocol.ResultsA total of 86.5% of portable navigation device and 82.2% of conventional group had a postoperative hip-knee angle within 3° of neutral alignment (P = .54). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for component coronal and sagittal plane alignment. Portable navigation device did not significantly increase the time to perform the surgery.ConclusionPortable navigation device demonstrates accurate restoration of alignment; however, there was no statistically significant difference when compared with conventional guides.