Home Appointments & Hours Patient Forms Locations & Directions     Your Doctors Meet the Staff Our Facilities Joint Replacement New Technology Common Questions	New Technology in Image Guided Surgery Simple, Accurate and Relaible Available at Oakwood Heritage Hospital in partnership with Michigan Orthopedic Specialists New technology is extending the life of knees and hips for patients of total joint replacement surgery. The Stryker® Navigation System is revolutionizing the way joint replacement surgery is done. Only a few hospitals in the country have this cutting edge technology, and Oakwood Heritage Hospital in relationship with Michigan Orthopedic Specialists, is one. Since the mid 1970's, computer assisted surgery (CAS) has emerged as an accepted and clinically appropriate alternative to traditional surgery. It works by using minimally invasive infrared trackers that are placed on the body. They send data about joint movement to a computer monitor. Armed with that information, the surgeon can accurately judge exactly where to place the instruments, the location of where to cut the bone, and the exact placement of the implant. "Which means it's absolutely straight and we don't have any variation or tilt in the replacement joint," said Dr. Morawa. "I can safely say to a patient if I've done this - it's in right, that I can guarantee they can go 20 years with this without having problems." Hundreds of articles in the form of case reports, retrospective reviews, clinical studies, and randomized clinical trials have been published in the peer-reviewed medical literature demonstrating that CAS has: Increased the speed of post-operative recovery; Improved outcomes; Revolutionized operating room procedures; Enhanced preoperative planning; and Improved intra-operative effectiveness and efficiency. CAS has been described using a variety of terms such as "image guided surgery," "surgical navigation," "surgical simulation," and "3-D computer surgery." Using CAS methods, physicians make more accurate diagnosis before and during surgery. Advanced technologies provide computerized, three-dimensional viewing so physicians and surgical teams can be more precise. As a result, procedures are shorter and protocols are improved. CAS is also less invasive than traditional surgery because surgeons can be more accurate using technologically advanced devices in place of (or in addition to) the traditional hand-guided, mechanical ones during surgery. This allows for increased level of patient safety and an overall reduction in patient complications. For more information, contact our offices and ask your doctor about Stryker's approach to joint treatment
	HIPAA Policy | © 2004 Michigan Orthopedic Specialists