1st Materialise Guided Knee Surgery Announced

Orthopedic surgeon Roger Jaeken, M.D., at Holy Family General Hospital in Reet, Belgium, has successfully performed the first total knee surgery that was preplanned with the Materialise, N.V.’s X-ray knee guide solution. This new technology allows for the preplanning of knee replacement surgeries as well as the 3D printing of surgical guides, solely on the basis of 2D X-ray images.

Until now, according to Materialese officials, the technology that combines the surgical planning of total knee replacements in a virtual 3D software environment with the 3D printing of corresponding patient-specific surgical guides required the availability of CT or MRI scans of the patient’s knee. The company’s technology actually turns 2D X-ray images into 3D information and solutions.

“I’m very excited to be part of this development project.” Jaeken said. “The ability to work from X-ray images will make the surgical preplanning process even more efficient. This is because, in many instances, patients will no longer have to undergo an often time-consuming CT or MRI scan, lead times will become shorter, and more cases will become eligible for preoperative planning.”

Fried Vancraen, the company’s CEO, said that he considers the first treatment of a patient with his firm’s X-ray technology to be an important landmark in the company’s development program. Materialese is located in Leuven, Belgium.