217
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Preserving the Abductor Mechanism in Robotic THR: The Influence of Stem Design and Cutterpath

, , , &
Pages 129-134 | Received 17 Oct 2002, Accepted 30 May 2003, Published online: 06 Jan 2010
 

Abstract

Objective: The tip of the greater trochanter is the attachment site for the abductor muscles of the hip joint. Its preservation in robotic and conventional THR is important for normal gait. The effect of different stem designs and robotic cutterpaths on the preservation of the trochanter tip is examined.

Materials and Methods: One anatomical stem, one straight stem, and one stem specifically designed for robotic THR were implanted virtually in CT scans of osteoarthrotic hip joints using the Torch preoperative planning unit (URS-ortho). In transverse sections of the trochanter tip, dimensions of the trochanter area removed by the milling tool were recorded for each stem design and different cutterpaths (3-axis versus 5-axis milling).

Results: Five-axis milling showed significantly better results than 3-axis milling. For straight stems, more bone was removed than for anatomic stems. The most favorable results were achieved with 5-axis milling and a curved stem specifically designed for robotic THR.

Conclusions: The introduction of 5-axis milling in robotic THR is an improvement of the technique and makes preservation of the abductor mechanism at the tip of the greater trochanter easier for the surgeon.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.