Which technology is primarily used to verify alignment intraoperatively in modern arthroplasty?

• A. Computer-assisted navigation for alignment verification
• B. Robotic-assisted systems for precise bone resection and component placement
• C. Intraoperative fluoroscopy without navigation
• D. Manual jigs with no imaging

Answer: (A)

Real-time intraoperative alignment verification is best achieved with computer-assisted navigation. These systems use trackers attached to bone and implants and sensors (optical or electromagnetic) to display the current angles, axes, and component orientations on a monitor as the procedure progresses. This immediate feedback lets the surgeon verify and fine-tune alignment before final implants are seated, which improves accuracy and reduces the risk of malalignment.

Robotic-assisted systems do contribute to precision in bone cuts and implant placement, but their primary role is to execute a planned trajectory and provide guidance for resections, rather than serving as the standard verification method. Intraoperative fluoroscopy without navigation can provide imaging, but it generally offers only 2D views and lacks the comprehensive, real-time 3D alignment data that navigation provides. Manual jigs without imaging offer no dynamic intraoperative verification at all.