LEARNING CURVE OF PATIENT-SPECIFIC TEMPLATES FOR TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY: ASSESSMENT WITH A NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND THE CUSUM TEST

INTRODUCTION The goal of the study was to perform quality control with a commercially available navigation system when introducing PST technique at our academic department. The learning curve was assessed by the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) test. We hypothesized that the PST process for TKA was immediately under control after its introduction when analyzed with the CUSUM technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS The first 50 TKAs implanted with the use of PST at an academic department were scheduled to enter in a prospective, observational study. All TKAs were implanted by an experienced, high volume senior consultant with high experience in knee navigation. PSTs were carefully positioned over the bone and articular surfaces to the best fit position, without any navigated information. Then the 3D femoral and tibia PSTs positioning were recorded. The surgical procedure was then completed following the routine navigated procedure with standard navigated templates. To assess the 3D positioning of each template individually ...