Accuracy in Computer-Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery

Accuracy is multifactorial: it is crucial to account for all factors when investigating accuracy of a surgical gesture (available assistance technologies, surgeon's experience, local difficulties). When experimental investigations, accuracy (distance to surgical target) needs to be associated with repeatability (variability around surgical target). Clinical relevance of improvements in accuracy that have been observed experimentally may be assessed by evaluating effects on the failure risk and the level of tolerance on surgical target (range of safety zone). ISO methodology enables to quantify improvements in accuracy when using assistance technologies and assess benefits in terms of decrease in failure risk and achievement of surgical targets with narrow tolerances.