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Fondren Orthopedic Group·Press Release
FONDREN ORTHOPEDIC GROUP MARKS MILESTONE IN DEVELOPMENT OF MAGNETICALLY POWERED KNEE TECHNOLOGY
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Fondren Orthopedic Group has reached a significant milestone in the development of a first-of-its-kind, magnetically powered knee technology, with Houston orthopedic surgeons performing the first procedure using the investigational device. The technology is being studied for its potential to actively assist knee movement in patients with severe, complex knee conditions for whom traditional surgical options may be limited.
The procedure was performed in Houston by Dr. Gregory Stocks and Dr. Mark Brinker, who pioneered the concept, with Dr. Cory Couch, an additional contributor to the research, also participating in the surgery. A second procedure was subsequently performed at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The investigational device has not been approved or cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for commercial use. The procedures were performed under FDA-authorized compassionate use and with approval from the respective institutions' Institutional Review Boards, allowing use of the investigational device in these individual patients.
Unlike a traditional knee replacement, the magnetically powered device is designed to actively assist the knee in bending and straightening. The concept was inspired in part by technology used in advanced prosthetic legs for patients who have undergone above-the-knee amputations.
For patients with severe knee damage who cannot undergo a traditional knee replacement, treatment options can be extremely limited. In some cases, joint fusion may be the only surgical alternative, permanently eliminating the ability to bend the knee. In the most severe cases, amputation may be considered. The magnetically powered knee is being explored as a potential alternative that could allow these patients to retain a functional, mobile knee.
“Some of the most difficult cases we encounter are patients whose knee conditions leave them with very few surgical options,” said Dr. Gregory Stocks, president and orthopedic surgeon at Fondren Orthopedic Group. “We began exploring this concept by asking whether there could be a way to preserve a functional knee for patients who might otherwise face joint fusion or amputation. Performing these first procedures is an exciting milestone, but it is also the beginning of the work needed to understand the potential of this investigational technology.”
Fondren Orthopedic Group will continue to collaborate with researchers and orthopedic specialists to advance the study of magnetically powered knee technology and explore its role in the future of joint replacement. As research progresses, the technology will continue to expand the possibilities of what is achievable for patients with complex knee conditions.
About Fondren Orthopedic Group
Founded in 1973, Fondren Orthopedic Group is one of the largest and most established physician-owned orthopedic practices in Houston, with more than 40 surgeons practicing across a range of sub-specialties. As a physician-owned group, Fondren Orthopedic Group is committed to personalized, patient-first care, combining advanced technology with a team-based approach to treat both routine and complex musculoskeletal conditions with multiple convenient locations across Greater Houston, Fondren Orthopedic Group remains dedicated to bringing the highest level of musculoskeletal care as close to home as possible for every patient. For more information, visit www.Fondren.com and follow Fondren Orthopedic Group on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
The procedure was performed in Houston by Dr. Gregory Stocks and Dr. Mark Brinker, who pioneered the concept, with Dr. Cory Couch, an additional contributor to the research, also participating in the surgery. A second procedure was subsequently performed at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The investigational device has not been approved or cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for commercial use. The procedures were performed under FDA-authorized compassionate use and with approval from the respective institutions' Institutional Review Boards, allowing use of the investigational device in these individual patients.
Unlike a traditional knee replacement, the magnetically powered device is designed to actively assist the knee in bending and straightening. The concept was inspired in part by technology used in advanced prosthetic legs for patients who have undergone above-the-knee amputations.
For patients with severe knee damage who cannot undergo a traditional knee replacement, treatment options can be extremely limited. In some cases, joint fusion may be the only surgical alternative, permanently eliminating the ability to bend the knee. In the most severe cases, amputation may be considered. The magnetically powered knee is being explored as a potential alternative that could allow these patients to retain a functional, mobile knee.
“Some of the most difficult cases we encounter are patients whose knee conditions leave them with very few surgical options,” said Dr. Gregory Stocks, president and orthopedic surgeon at Fondren Orthopedic Group. “We began exploring this concept by asking whether there could be a way to preserve a functional knee for patients who might otherwise face joint fusion or amputation. Performing these first procedures is an exciting milestone, but it is also the beginning of the work needed to understand the potential of this investigational technology.”
Fondren Orthopedic Group will continue to collaborate with researchers and orthopedic specialists to advance the study of magnetically powered knee technology and explore its role in the future of joint replacement. As research progresses, the technology will continue to expand the possibilities of what is achievable for patients with complex knee conditions.
About Fondren Orthopedic Group
Founded in 1973, Fondren Orthopedic Group is one of the largest and most established physician-owned orthopedic practices in Houston, with more than 40 surgeons practicing across a range of sub-specialties. As a physician-owned group, Fondren Orthopedic Group is committed to personalized, patient-first care, combining advanced technology with a team-based approach to treat both routine and complex musculoskeletal conditions with multiple convenient locations across Greater Houston, Fondren Orthopedic Group remains dedicated to bringing the highest level of musculoskeletal care as close to home as possible for every patient. For more information, visit www.Fondren.com and follow Fondren Orthopedic Group on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.