DOHA, 7 June, 2015: For the first time in Qatar, a Navigated Total Knee Replacement surgery (TKR) has been conducted successfully at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) in Qatar, using a technology developed by Brainlab, a leading German provider of software-driven medical technology that supports targeted and less-invasive treatment.

The operation, performed by a team of doctors from the Orthopedic Surgery Department of the hospital, was headed by Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Al Ateeq Al Dosari (MD, FRCSC), Senior Consultant and Head of Orthopedic Surgery, who has over 14 years of experience in orthopedics and trauma. 

Computer navigation enables the surgeon to accurately quantify deformity and gap balance during TKA, ensuring greater accuracy in component alignment, full correction of deformity, and a well-balanced gap throughout the range of knee motion. This translates into significant improvements in clinical function and may result in an increase in the long-term survival of the implant. Computer navigation in TKA may be even more useful in knees with complex deformities, extra-articular deformities, and in patients who are obese.

Qatar’s healthcare services are of a high standard, comparable to several developed countries. HGH, which is a modern facility, employs a wide range of the latest surgical procedures, including the robotics surgery program. 

Following a complete check-up and study of the selected patient for the new procedure by hospital doctors and after confirming a higher level of accuracy in matching the artificial implants to the patient’s knee joints, they decided to go ahead with the surgery.

The new concept leaves little margin for error, unlike those seen in conventional surgical techniques performed without the support of a software-guided system.

“Following the success of this surgery, I encourage more surgeons from the spine and trauma specialty in our department to make use of this innovation to achieve an increase in the precision and quality of our service offerings,” commented Dr. Al Dosari after the operation. “This technique helps fix the implant accurately in accordance with the pre-operative surgical plan,” he added. 

The renowned surgeon showered praise on his team for their involvement and contribution in making the procedure a success. 

Post-surgery studies following software-guided knee replacement surgery have revealed impressive results, with an increased level of patient satisfaction and a big improvement in patients’ quality of life. 

A 2011 study revealed that it also significantly improves patient outcome scores. In this study, 91% of the computer assisted surgery patients were extremely or very satisfied versus 70% of patients who underwent conventional surgery.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.