System and method for precise prosthesis positioning in hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for precise intra-operative placement and positioning of components of hip prostheses, particularly with respect to avoiding acetabular prosthetic implant malpositioning in the human hip. In one embodiment the system includes at least a pair of electronic sensors as tilt and direction sensors, which are positioned on the patient's native bone structure and the prosthesis, plus at least one of an electronic angle sensor and an electronic leg length measurement unit, plus a computer processor running application software that is capable of receiving and using information from the various electronic sensors to calculate relevant angular relationships and, optionally, distance relationships. The system electronically measures a living subject's pelvic tilt and position while lying in the lateral decubitus position during the surgery. The systems and methods provide accurate and precise measurements of the subject's pelvic tilt, angle of inclination, and angle of forward flexion to the surgeon during the procedure by which the hip prosthesis is surgically implanted into the subject.