Comparison of the VetGate and SurgiGATE 1.0 computer assisted surgery systems for insertion of cortex screws across the distal phalanx in horses – an in vitro study

Abstract

The In vitro experimental study on five cadaveric equine limb pairs (n=10) was conducted to evaluate the functionality and precision of the VetGate Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS) system during insertion of two 4.5mm cortex screws across virtual midsagittal fractures of the distal phalanx (P3) in the horse and to compare the results with those achieved with the SurgiGate 1.0 CAS-System in a similar study. In each specimen wo 4.5mm cortex screws were inserted computer assisted in lag fashion facilitated by the VetGate CASSystem. In none of the specimens did screw penetration of the articular- or solar surface or the semilunar canal, occur. The difference between optimal and actual screw length is significantly better in this study compared to a similar study conducted with the SurgiGATE 1.0 CAS-System. The results achieved with the VetGate CAS-System are even more precise than with the SurgiGATE 1.0 CAS-System (p<0.001). The VetGate CAS-System allows exact screw placement at delicate locations.