New Knee Navigator
Can Improve Surgery Outcomes

Orthopedic surgery, particularly joint replacement surgery, is very exacting. A new tool being implemented at Wellington Regional Medical Center, the DePuy Ci™ System from Johnson & Johnson, helps surgeons maximize accuracy during knee replacement procedures. This usually leads to fewer postoperative complications, improved knee joint stability and implant longevity.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPUY INC. With computer-assisted knee replacement surgery, Harvey Montijo, MD, uses a computer screen like this one to be sure his cuts are accurate to a tenth of a millimeter and a tenth of a degree.

The Ci System produces a digital model that serves as a map for the surgeon, providing an unobstructed view of the patient’s knee joint on a computer screen. The cameras take data via infrared signals from reflectors placed on the patient's body and on specially designed surgical instruments.

The computer analyzes and displays the data in the form of charts and graphs showing optimum angles, lines and measurements needed when cutting bone and in the alignment of the prosthetic knee within the patient. The visual mapping helps doctors make crucial decisions before and throughout the operation.

"With the computer, we actually have a three-dimensional image of the bone and the entire limb from the hip to the ankle. The computer is accurate to a tenth of a millimeter and to a tenth of a degree -- a degree of accuracy not possible with the naked eye," says Harvey Montijo, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Orthopedic Institute at Wellington.

Harvey Montijo, MD, is a boardcertified orthopedic surgeon. He is the senior partner of the Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches with an office located on the campus of the hospital. For more information or an appointment, please call 561-798-6600.

Total knee replacement is usually recommended for patients with severe knee pain and disability caused by damage to cartilage from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or trauma. More than 90 percent of people who undergo total knee replacements experience dramatic reduction of knee pain and significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities of daily living.

"With the advanced technology of the Ci System, we can achieve unprecedented precision in knee surgeries. It’s simple -- the more accurate your cuts and the more precise the placement of the implant, the better the outcome is going to be," Dr.Montijo says. "We are fortunate to be one of the few centers using this advanced computer system during orthopedic surgery."

Learn more about exciting new advances in knee and hip surgery. Please join us for one of Dr. Montijo’s monthly seminars. Please call 561-798-9880 for dates and to reserve your place.

Wellington Regional Medical Center, 10101 Forest Hill Blvd. Wellington, FL 33414 (561) 798-9880