Patient Specific Distal Femoral Osteotomy Reduces Surgical Time: Demonstration of a Novel Patient-Specific Technique

Description

This presentation by Alisdair MacLeod revolves around an innovative approach to distal femur osteotomy, a crucial orthopedic procedure aimed at managing knee osteoarthritis and delaying total knee replacements. The speaker discusses the intricacies of the surgery, noting that its complexity has traditionally limited its availability to skilled specialists. MacLeod introduces a novel digital osteotomy system that employs patient-specific instrumentation, which has been shown to significantly reduce procedural times, complexity, and anxiety for surgeons during operations.



The study showcases three cases conducted at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna, where the surgical team utilized advanced imaging techniques (CT scans and weight-bearing long leg X-rays) to create accurate 3D models for surgical planning. Custom 3D-printed titanium implants and cutting guides were developed, allowing for precise temporary placements and fixation. Remarkably, the surgical time was reduced to just 30 minutes by the third surgery, highlighting efficiency improvements over traditional methods.



The new system ensured accurate surgical outcomes, with final alignments achieved within one degree of preoperative plans, thus indicating a high level of precision. Additionally, the reduction in invasiveness may lead to faster patient recoveries. The presentation concludes with an emphasis on the benefits of the new techniques in orthopedic surgery.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-240482

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