Not all patient-specific systems are created equal
-Ranjan Sachdev, MD
What does it mean to be patient-specific, or personalized, or customized? Is it an acceptable threshold that one or two positioning guides are designed to match a patient’s anatomy, while the rest of the guides – not to mention the implant – are off-the-shelf?
Patient-specific instruments (PSI) are part of the equation, but recent literature suggests that the predominant approach to PSI do not improve accuracy in TKA.1,2
True customized doesn’t come with a size
The numbers don’t lie – 20% of patients are not satisfied with their total knee replacement.3 There are multiple causes of dissatisfaction that are directly related to the size and shape of the implant, including residual pain and poor function.
To address these causes of dissatisfaction Conformis has taken the idea of patient-specific a step further, beyond PSI and into patient-specific implants. By designing the femoral and tibial components to match each patient’s anatomy precisely, there is potential to significantly improve post-operative outcomes.
1: Victor, et al; Patient-specific Guides Do Not Improve Accuracy in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research; 2014, 472: 263-271
2: Lustig, et al; Unsatisfactory Accuracy as Determined by Computer Navigation of VISIONAIRE Patient-Specific Instrumentation for Total Knee Arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty; 2013, 28: 469-473
3: Bourne, et al; Patient Satisfaction after Total Knee Arthroplasty. Who is Satisfied and Who is Not? Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research; 2010, 468: 57-63.
