New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery orthopedic surgeon Jonathan Vigdorchik, MD, performed the first knee-replacement procedure in the U.S. assisted by augmented reality, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 21.
Dr. Vigdorchik replaced the knees of two patients in December in what is believed to be the first procedure assisted by Medacta's NextAR augmented-reality platform in the country. The platform includes glasses that allow Dr. Vigdorchik to see and follow operating plans projected on the patient. Specifically, the platform assists surgeons in precisely removing bone and cartilage and in positioning the knee implant.
"At many time points during the operation it's actually providing me information, making sure that my cuts are degree for degree, millimeter for millimeter, accurate," Dr. Vigdorchik said to WSJ.
Medacta's platform received FDA-approval in July 2020. It was first used in Australia in September 2020.