The demand for knee replacements outstrips the demand for hip replacements, according to an article in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and 3-D printed, personalized implants are gaining ground accordingly, The Post and Courier reports.
According to orthopedic surgeon Eric Stem, MD, at North Charleston, S.C.-based Lowcountry Orthopaedics, the demand for the ConforMIS knee is growing.
The cost of the ConforMIS knee replacement is comparable to that of a traditional knee replacement, reported Dr. Stem, who implants a few every month. The required CT scan constitutes the majority of a patient's out-of-pocket cost.
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