Sectra, a medical imaging and cybersecurity company based in Linköping, Sweden and Shelton, Connecticut, has announced that Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has ordered Sectra’s 3D pre-operative planning solution. “The software will provide HSS orthopedic surgeons with advanced tools to enhance visualization of complex cases with the goal of improving patient outcomes.”
HSS Invests in Sectra Orthopaedic 3D Planning Software
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“Sectra’s innovative 3D solutions will enable us to make full use of the acquired images, resulting in cutting edge delivery of care to our orthopaedic patients,” says William M. Ricci, M.D., chief of Orthopaedic Trauma Service at HSS, in the January 16, 2018. “This 3D platform will improve the quality of pre-operative planning with potential for improved surgical outcomes.”
As the company wrote in the news release, “The 3D pre-operative planning solution includes tools that allow the surgeon to render standard CT images into a three-dimensional interactive image that can be segmented, manipulated, mirrored, templated and 3D printed. The software will integrate with the existing Sectra radiology PACS [picture archiving and communication system] at HSS to enable surgeons immediate access from anywhere in the hospital.”
“This agreement adds software tools for advanced 3D virtual fracture reduction and trauma planning as well as efficient tools for 3D spine planning into the hands of all surgeons at HSS,” says Gustaf Schwang, General Manager Business Unit Orthopaedics at Sectra. “It also includes collaborative development of software, intended to deepen both companies’ leadership position in our respective markets.”
Dr. Ricci told OTW, “This platform is an example of how technological advances can impact clinical care. Traditionally, clinicians used 2D images from plain X-ray and CT [computed tomography] scans to evaluate 3-dimentional fractures. 3-D reconstruction technology became a useful tool to further evaluate anatomic structures, but individual images remain static, individual displaced fracture fragments could not easily be manipulated relative to one another. Sectra’s new 3D pre-operative planning solution allows us, at HSS, to take the next step forward. We can now identify and manipulate the anatomic parts in 3-dimensions on a workstation in our office, just as we might intra-operatively. This technology can only improve our understanding of, and ability to anatomically reduce fractures leading to more efficient surgery and improved patient outcomes.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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