Computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty marketing and patient education: an evaluation of quality, content and accuracy of related websites

Abstract

Background: The internet is increasingly being used as a resource for health-related information by the general public. We sought to establish the authorship, content and accuracy of the information available online regarding computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty (CA-TKA).

Methods: One hundred fifty search results from three leading search engines available online (Google, Yahoo!, Bing) from ten different countries worldwide were reviewed.

Results: While private physicians/groups authored 50.7 % of the websites, only 17.3 % were authored by a hospital/university. As compared to traditional TKA, 59.3 % of the websites claimed that navigated TKA offers better longevity, 46.6 % claimed accelerated recovery and 26 % claimed fewer complications. Only 11.3 % mentioned the prolonged operating room time required, and only 15.3 % noted the current lack of long-term evidence in support of this technology.

Conclusions: Patients seeking information regarding CA-TKA through the major search engines are likely to encounter websites presenting a narrow, unscientific, viewpoint of the present technology, putting emphasis on unsubstantiated benefits while disregarding potential drawbacks.

Level of evidence: Survey of Materials-Internet.

Keywords: Computer-assisted; Internet; Online information; Patient education; Total knee arthroplasty.