Lloyd Hines looks at how advances in AI, surgical robotics, augmented reality and other technologies and innovations are helping with personalised patient pathways in orthopaedic surgery
Everyone is different.
The same goes for orthopaedics patients. We differ in size, the condition of our bones/tissues and the necessities of our joint replacements.
This means joint replacement surgery is never a one-size-fits-all proposition and more personalised patient pathways often lead to better results. In recent years, we’ve seen the industry take a step in this direction and personalised care is sure to be a part of orthopaedics’ future.
But to achieve this, advances in AI, surgical robotics, augmented reality (AR) and other technologies are crucial. So, how much are these innovations helping right now?
AR has been in the surgical suite for years. Even before the pandemic, this technology was being used to improve accuracy, efficiency and provide real-time patient data in the operating room (OR). However, since COVID-19 we’ve seen an uptake in its adoption.
AR provides its users with computer-generated perceptual information to support them in surgical procedures. For example, this information could be instructions or 3D imaging that’s added to the user’s view via mobile devices and headsets.
In January, Jonathan Vigdorchik, a surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) performed the US’ first knee replacement surgeries supported by the technology. For this, he relied on Medacta International’s NextAR augmented-reality platform and a pair of AR glasses developed by Vuzix Corp.
Before the procedure, Vigdorchik performed computer tomography knee scans on his patients and loaded them into the NextAR platform. The platform then developed 3D models of the patients’ knees to support his preoperative planning.
In the procedure, the AR glasses enabled Vigdorchik to see the patient and a digital display of the patient’s leg with a 3D model superimposed to show a diagram of each planned cut. If he cut correctly, the line on the model turned green. If incorrect, the line turned red.
These operations were a major milestone for orthopaedics, with AR set to play a vital role in the future of the surgical space. However, this is not the only technology that is helping procedures become more accurate and personalised.
For example, Orthosensor’s Verasense (now part of Stryker’s offering) allows surgeons to quantify ligament balance and customise implant position during primary and revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This is a major advance on traditional methods which relied upon surgeons to use their feel and judgment to determine whether the knee is balanced during the operation.
But now, using the Verasense – which is a disposable, intelligent device – surgeons are provided with real-time data wirelessly which they can view via an intra-operative monitor, the LinkStation MINI, in the OR.
Stryker’s offering does not stop there. The med-tech giant is also building out a product offering around its Mako robotic arm, which has been developed for joint replacement surgeries.
The Mako’s guidance allows for a more accurate and better-aligned joint replacement. The device also supports a more per