Periacetabular Osteotomy Performed with Imageless Computer-Assisted Navigation: Case Report

Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is an effective surgical treatment for developmental hip dysplasia. The goal of PAO is to reorient the acetabulum to increase acetabular coverage of the femoral head, as well as to reduce contact pressures within the hip joint. The primary challenge of PAO is to accurately achieve the desired acetabular fragment orientation, while maximizing containment and congruency. As key parts of the procedure are performed out of direct field of view of the surgeon, combined with this challenge of precise spatial orientation, there is a potential role for technologies such as surgical navigation. Adjunctive technology may provide information on the orientation of repositioned acetabulum and may offer a useful assist in performing PAO. Here, we present a case of developmental dysplasia of the hip treated via PAO with the addition of an imageless computer navigation device. Surgery was successful, and, at 3 months after procedure, the patient was progressing well. To our best knowledge, this is the first case using imageless computer-assisted navigation in PAO surgery.