SURGICAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE

A computer assisted surgery method and apparatus for determining a change in a property of a joint of a patient caused by an arthroplasty procedure is described. The relative position of a first bone and a second bone of the joint is determined with the joint in a first position. The position of a pre-operative center of motion of the joint relative to the first bone is determined. The position of the second bone relative to the pre-operative center of motion is determined using the relative position of the first and second bones. The position of a post-operative center of motion resulting from a prosthetic component to be used in the joint is determined. The position of the second bone relative to the post-operative center of motion is determined. Any change in the property of the joint. is determined from the difference between the position of the second bone relative to the pre-operative center of motion and the position of the second bone relative to the post-operative center of motion.