Retrograde Drilling of Talar Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions: A Feasibility and Accuracy Analysis of a Novel Electromagnetic Navigation Method Versus a Standard Fluoroscopic Method

PurposeA novel method using an electromagnetic navigation system (ENS) was developed, and its feasibility and accuracy for retrograde drilling procedures were evaluated and compared with the standard freehand fluoroscopic method in an experimental setting.MethodsA controlled laboratory study of 16 standard freehand fluoroscopically guided and 16 electromagnetically navigated retrograde drilling procedures was performed on 4 cadaveric human ankle joints. Four artificial cartilage lesions were consecutively set, 2 on the medial and 2 on the lateral talar dome. Drilling accuracy was measured in terms of the distance from the final position of the drill bit to the tip of the probe hook and the distance between the tip of the drill bit and the center of the cartilage lesion on the articular cartilage surface. Intraoperative fluoroscopy exposure times were documented, as were readjustments of drilling directions or complete restarts. All procedures were timed with a stopwatch.ResultsSuccessful retrograde drilling was accomplished in 12 cases with the standard fluoroscopy-guided technique and in all 16 ENS-guided procedures. The overall mean time for the fluoroscopy-guided procedures was 660.00 ± 239.87 seconds and the overall mean time for the ENS method was 308.06 ± 54.03 seconds, providing a mean time benefit of 420.13 seconds. The mean distance from the final position of the drill bit to the tip of the probe hook was 3.25 ± 1.29 mm for the standard method and 2.19 ± 0.54 mm for the ENS method, and the mean distance between the tip of the drill bit and the center of the cartilage lesion on the articular cartilage surface was 2.50 ± 0.97 mm for the standard method and 0.88 ± 0.81 mm for the ENS method.ConclusionsCompared with the standard fluoroscopic technique, the ENS method used in this study showed higher accuracy and a shorter procedure time and required no X-ray radiation.Clinical RelevanceThe novel method considerably improves on the standard operating procedure in terms of safety, operation time, and radiation exposure.