First total knee surgery based on 2D X-ray images

LEUVEN, Belgium -- The first total knee replacement surgery that was pre-planned based on proprietory 2D X-ray technology was performed successfully this week at  AZ Heilige Familie (Holy Family General Hospital) in Reet, Belgium,  said additive manufacturing specialist Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS).

The successful knee replacement operation was  orthopedic surgeon Roger Jaeken using the Materialise X-ray knee guide solution. This new proprietary technology allows for the preplanning of knee replacement surgeries as well as the 3D printing of related surgical guides, solely on the basis of 2D X-ray images.

Orthopedic surgeon Roger Jaeken with a 3D printed knee implant produced using new X-ray based knee guide technology developed by Materialise

Materialise developed the next generation of total knee replacement surgical planning and guiding tools, which actually turn 2D X-ray images into 3D information and solutions.  Until this development, 3D printing of corresponding patient-specific surgical guides required the availability of CT or MRI scans of the patient’s knee.

“I’m very excited to be part of this development project,” said Dr. Jaeken. “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.”

Materialise, which pioneered the widely used CT and MRI based knee guide technology, developed the new technology in order to stay one step ahead of the industry, said CEO Fried Vancraen.

“We consider the first treatment of a patient with our X-ray technology as an important landmark in this development program,” Mr. Vancraen said.