Accuracy of Cup Placement Angle, Leg Lengthening, and Offset Measurement Using an AR-Based Portable Navigation System: Validation in Supine and Lateral Decubitus Positions for Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background and Objectives: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) requires accurate implant placement to ensure optimal outcomes. In this study, the AR Hip navigation system, an imageless portable navigation tool using augmented reality (AR), was evaluated for measuring radiographic inclination (RI), anteversion (RA), leg lengthening (LL), and offset (OS) changes in supine and lateral decubitus THA. Notably, this is the first report to assess the accuracy of LL and OS measurements using AR technology. Methods: We analyzed 48 hips from primary THA patients: 17 in the supine (S) group and 31 in the lateral (L) group. RI, RA, LL, and OS were measured intraoperatively using AR Hip and postoperatively using Zed Hip 3D software (Version 18.0.0.0). The absolute errors and outlier rates (≥5° for RI/RA and ≥5 mm for LL/OS) were compared between groups. Results: The mean intraoperative RI values with AR Hip were 40.1 ± 0.6° (S), 40.2 ± 1.2° (L), and 40.1 ± 1.0° (total), while the postoperative RI values with Zed Hip were 39.7 ± 2.9° (S), 39.5 ± 2.5° (L), and 39.6 ± 2.6° (total). The absolute errors were 1.8 ± 1.7° (total), with no significant group differences (p = 0.957). For RA, the errors were 2.0 ± 1.2° (total) (p = 0.771). The LL errors were 2.3 ± 2.2 mm (total) (p = 0.271), and the OS errors were 3.5 ± 2.8 mm (total) (p = 0.620). The outlier rates for RI were 11.8% (S) and 3.2% (L); for RA, 0% (S) and 3.2% (L); for LL, 29.4% (S) and 6.5% (L) with a significant difference (p = 0.031); and for OS, 23.5% (S) and 25.8% (L). No significant differences were observed for RI, RA, or OS. Conclusions: AR Hip provided accurate measurements of cup orientation, LL, and OS in both supine and lateral THA. Importantly, this study is the first to report the accuracy of LL and OS measurements using AR technology, demonstrating the potential of AR Hip for improving THA precision.