Innovation & Technology
OrthoPilot Orthopaedic Navigation System
The medical landscape has been changing fairly rapidly, and some of the most dramatic improvements are in the area of computer-aided surgery. Computers in the operating room make it possible for patients to experience less pain, to recover more quickly from surgery, and to enjoy a much improved outlook for long-term well being. Theis technical revolution has expanded into knee surgical procedures and we stand at the forefront.
Orthopedic surgery has advanced rapidly in recent years, though until the introduction of OrthoPilot, surgeons were still having to manually measure bone lengths, angles, ligament tensions, and the like. A miss-measurement, deviation in cutting angle, or inaccurate implant alignment can undermine the procedure and result in long-lasting pain and increased wear on the prosthesis itself.
In a recent study comparing 821 patients, roughly 3 of every 10 individuals who received implants though traditional methods were found to have a prosthesis out of optimal alignment by more than three degrees, and 1 of 10 was out of alignment by 5 degrees or more. However, in surgical procedures supported by OrthoPilot, patients enjoyed a 300% improvement in knee implant aligment accuracy. For successful knee surgeries, OrthoPilot has clearly raised the bar.
The OrthoPilot Navigation system was developed by Aesculap, a highly-regarded German company with over 135 years of experience in orthopedics, neurosurgery, spine, and cardiovascular fields. Proven in Europe in more than 10,000 impant procedures, Aesculap's OrthoPilot enables surgeons to consistenly acheive results that are far more accurate tha via traditional methods. The recipient of the German Society for Safety in Medicine's annual award, OrthoPilot doesn't replace the surgeon's experience, in compliments it. And it has proven invaluable in all types of knee procedures.
To find ot more about this new revolution please visit aesculap.com or orthopilot.com.
Carticel
Approximately 2 million knee injuries occur each year, making knee pain one of the most common sources of chronic joint pain. Pain, swelling, locking and catching affect one's ability to work, participate sports, or even perform daily tasks. Many of the knee injuries involve the cartilage in the knee. Cartilage does not have a natural ability to heal and, if left untreated, the damage may spread to surrounding healthy cartilage and cause further deterioration of the joint surface.
A procedure called Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) provides you and your doctor with an option to repair articular cartilage injuries by implanting your own (autologous) cultured cartilage cells (chondrocyte) in the damaged area. The autologous cultured chondrocytes are called Carticel.
Carticel has demonstrated important benefits in patients with damaged articular cartilage. Carticel is indicated for the repair of symptomatic, cartilaginous defects of the femoral condyle (medial, lateral, trochlear), caused by acute or repetitive trauma, in patients who have had an inadequate response to a prior arthroscopic or other surgical repair procedure. Carticel is not indicted for treatment of cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.
To find out if you are a candidate for Carticel, ask your doctor or visist www.carticel.com.