Orthopedic surgeons at the Hadassah University hospital on Mount Scopus made a major medical breakthrough when they successfully performed a hip-replacement surgery with the help of a computer navigational system.
The new sophisticated computer navigation system provides surgeons with an accurate three-dimensional picture of the surgical area on a computer screen that they can view as they operate.
Until recently hip replacement surgery was a major procedure for both patient and surgeon. To reduce the impact of the operation on the patient, doctors sought ways to minimize the incision. This necessitated their receiving some image of the anatomy of the patient before operating which was done using a fluoroscope machine.
The new computer navigation system uses special sensors attached to the patient's body to transmit data to the computer indicating the location of the hip joint relative to the space at the site. A fluoroscope machine provides the basis of the virtual picture through the transmission of an x-ray image of the hip to the computer. The data is translated into the picture displayed on the computer screen which helps guide the surgeons in positioning the hip replacement. The computer generated image displays the exact coordinates of the surgical site and angle at which the implant should be placed.
According to the virtual picture and data that appear on the computer screen, surgeons now know in advance exactly where to enter the hip and where to position the replacement. The computer generated imagery also allows the surgeons to be aware of their location inside the hip at every stage of the surgery. This complex procedure allows hip replacement surgery to now be conducted through a minimal incision of 2 inches.
The state-of-the-art technologies that Hadassah doctors use were developed by the American companies Zimmer and Medtronics. Simmer and Medtronic chose Hadassah to perform the surgery because of its orthopedists’ expertise in the realm of computer-assisted surgery, based largely on the removal of shrapnel from the bodies of terror victims. In his annual report to stockholders this week Zimmer CEO specifically mentioned that the first use of this advanced technology took place in Israel.
To date, Hadassah’s orthopedic surgeons have performed four hip replacement operations using the computer navigation system at Hadassah’s Center for Joint Replacement in the Department of Orthopedics at Hadassah University Hospital-Mt. Scopus. Prof. Iri Liebergall, Chairman of Hadassah’s Departments of Orthopedics, and Dr. Yoav Matan, Head of the Joint Replacement Unit at Hadassah-Mt. Scopus, head the 12-person operating room team.
“These sophisticated technologies enable us to significantly improve the quality of life of the patient after the surgery, in terms of independent movement capability and hospitalization time,” Prof. Liebergall said.
Hip replacement, known as hip arthroscopy, is the treatment of choice for many people who suffer from painful, end-stage arthritis, with more than 150,000 procedures performed in the United States each year.
The medical breakthrough was presented at a press conference at the Mount Scopus Hospital last week in the presence of 53-year old Amram Weisu of Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, who was the fourth patient and is due to be discharged very soon.
The new sophisticated computer navigation system provides surgeons with an accurate three-dimensional picture of the surgical area on a computer screen that they can view as they operate.
Until recently hip replacement surgery was a major procedure for both patient and surgeon. To reduce the impact of the operation on the patient, doctors sought ways to minimize the incision. This necessitated their receiving some image of the anatomy of the patient before operating which was done using a fluoroscope machine.
The new computer navigation system uses special sensors attached to the patient's body to transmit data to the computer indicating the location of the hip joint relative to the space at the site. A fluoroscope machine provides the basis of the virtual picture through the transmission of an x-ray image of the hip to the computer. The data is translated into the picture displayed on the computer screen which helps guide the surgeons in positioning the hip replacement. The computer generated image displays the exact coordinates of the surgical site and angle at which the implant should be placed.
According to the virtual picture and data that appear on the computer screen, surgeons now know in advance exactly where to enter the hip and where to position the replacement. The computer generated imagery also allows the surgeons to be aware of their location inside the hip at every stage of the surgery. This complex procedure allows hip replacement surgery to now be conducted through a minimal incision of 2 inches.
The state-of-the-art technologies that Hadassah doctors use were developed by the American companies Zimmer and Medtronics. Simmer and Medtronic chose Hadassah to perform the surgery because of its orthopedists’ expertise in the realm of computer-assisted surgery, based largely on the removal of shrapnel from the bodies of terror victims. In his annual report to stockholders this week Zimmer CEO specifically mentioned that the first use of this advanced technology took place in Israel.
To date, Hadassah’s orthopedic surgeons have performed four hip replacement operations using the computer navigation system at Hadassah’s Center for Joint Replacement in the Department of Orthopedics at Hadassah University Hospital-Mt. Scopus. Prof. Iri Liebergall, Chairman of Hadassah’s Departments of Orthopedics, and Dr. Yoav Matan, Head of the Joint Replacement Unit at Hadassah-Mt. Scopus, head the 12-person operating room team.
“These sophisticated technologies enable us to significantly improve the quality of life of the patient after the surgery, in terms of independent movement capability and hospitalization time,” Prof. Liebergall said.
Hip replacement, known as hip arthroscopy, is the treatment of choice for many people who suffer from painful, end-stage arthritis, with more than 150,000 procedures performed in the United States each year.
The medical breakthrough was presented at a press conference at the Mount Scopus Hospital last week in the presence of 53-year old Amram Weisu of Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, who was the fourth patient and is due to be discharged very soon.