Comparison of Computer‐Assisted Surgery with Conventional Technique for the Treatment of Axial Distal Phalanx Fractures in Horses: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

CAS although expensive improves precision in screw insertion into P3 and consequently should yield improved clinical outcome.

Comparison of the VetGate and SurgiGATE 1.0 computer assisted surgery systems for insertion of cortex screws across the distal phalanx in horses – an in vitro study

“…The results obtained with the SurgiGATE 1.0 System used in previous studies in distal virtual phalanx-and distal sesamoid bone fractures in the horse showed a greater precision of screw length selection and placement compared to the conventional technique (Andritzky et al 2005).…”

“…The SurgiGATE 1.0 worked with an active optic tracking system, where the instruments were tracked with infrared light emitting diodes. The drill sleeve was not navigated in this system (Andritzky et al 2005, Gygax et al 2006, Rossol et al 2008). This system is not available anymore and the remaining one is not professionally serviced any more.…”

“…In an additional step the axes were also determined on preplanned screw holes and along the inserted screws from the records still available of the study by Andritzky et al (2005).…”

“…The pre-planned and actual screw axes and lengths in the present study and the difference between optimal and computer determined screw length were compared to the data compiled in the study conducted by Andritzky et al (2005) with the SurgiGATE System. The Student unpaired t-test was used for comparison of these data.…”

“…The Student unpaired t-test was used for comparison of these data. To compare the Clinical Screw Length Assessment with the ones determined by Andritzky et al (2005) the Fisher's exact chi square-test was used. For all analyses, a P value < 0.05 was considered significant.…”