Recent advances in navigation-assisted musculoskeletal tumor resection

The techniques of surgical navigation to assist with various orthopaedic operations have been improving and are becoming more frequently described. The applications of this technology in orthopaedic oncology are currently being investigated, and case reports are seen in the literature with increasing frequency, making this a technology with which orthopaedic oncologists should become familiar. Although there are a number of potential applications for navigation systems in orthopaedic oncology, currently there are a number of limitations as well. Benefits that can be envisioned include but are not limited to improving the precision of a planned resection or precisely matching a reconstruction to a resection defect. Current limitations include the lack of a software system that incorporates all the functionality that an orthopaedic oncologist could use and a mechanism to define accuracy of a resection. Future directions include the potential development of navigation systems that work together with implant design systems, or with robotic systems that automate specific osteotomies during a resection procedure, further increasing the precision. Given the significant potential for benefit in orthopaedic oncology, it is expected that development and optimization of these systems for application in musculoskeletal tumor resection will continue over the coming years.