Use of the Bone Ninja Mobile Application as a Pre-operative Assessment and Simulation Tool in Patients Undergoing High Tibial Osteotomy^*

Abstract

Objective

Our purpose was to facilitate the simulation of preoperative correction to enable shared doctor-patient decision-making in individuals undergoing high tibial osteotomy (HTO).

Methods

A total of 22 patients underwent high tibial osteotomy using internal or external fixation devices for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. Preoperatively, assessment of deformity parameters and simulation of the corrective osteotomy was done in the presence of the patient, using Bone Ninja. Postoperatively, the patient's satisfaction level with the quality of explanation provided by the use of this software was assessed using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-short (PSQ-18). A comparison of the correction obtained using paper cuttings and the simulation software was performed.

Results

All patients were satisfied with their role in the decision-making process. They showed a good understanding and comprehension of the proposed surgery. There was no statistically significant difference between simulated preoperative Medial Proximal Tibial Angle (MPTA) obtained by paper cuttings and software-assisted correction. The PSQ-18 mean score for communication was 4.24 (0.88), for technical quality it was 4.11 (0.59) and for general satisfaction it was 3.11 (0.68).

Conclusion

Bone Ninja is an effective, convenient, user-friendly and cost-effective deformity planning tool that supersedes the arduous traditional method of paper tracings and scissors.

Keywords
osteotomy; osteoarthritis, knee; surveys and questionnaires; patient satisfaction; radiology information systems