Medacta Study in Shoulder Arthroplasty Further Demonstrates the Potential of Augmented Reality in Orthopedics

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes virtual elements onto real images, offering interactive and enhanced experiences through digital devices. It is making significant advancements in the medical sector, with the global AR market for medical applications expected to grow at high double-digit rates over the next decade. Medical devices utilizing AR have the potential to enhance surgical efficiency by providing real-time access to data, documenting procedures, and facilitating surgical planning. This technology contributes to improved precision and safety in surgery, ultimately benefiting the patient. Augmented reality (AR) systems are under development and study across various orthopedic specialties, including fracture care, adult reconstruction, orthopedic oncology, spine surgery, and resident education. Recent research emphasizes areas such as improved surgical accuracy, reduced surgical duration, and minimized radiation exposure. Companies working in the space include Pixee Medical, Augmedics, Medacta, and Insight Medical Systems which was acquired by Enovis in 2022.

Recently, Medacta Group, a Swiss medical focused on augmented reality solutions for orthopedic surgery, has unveiled the results of a recent study demonstrating the high accuracy of their augmented reality surgical application, NextAR Shoulder. This application offers precise guidance for the placement of glenoid components during shoulder surgery. The glenoid, situated on the lateral scapula, is a somewhat shallow structure with various shapes. It serves as the socket component of the shoulder joint and articulates with the humeral head.

The study, titled “Glenoid Component Placement in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Assisted with Augmented Reality Through a Head-mounted Display Leads to Low Deviation Between Planned and Post-operative Parameters,” revealed that the application provides excellent postoperative results that closely match preoperative plans and intraoperative indications. The study’s findings suggest that NextAR Shoulder, integrated with augmented reality, enhances surgical accuracy and precision during the implantation of glenoid components.

Before surgery, surgeons use a 3D virtual model of the patient’s shoulder to determine the optimal implant selection and position for shoulder reconstruction. NextAR Shoulder further aids this process by offering real-time orientation assessments during surgery, enabling surgeons to track instrument and implant positions accurately. This is made possible through the NextAR TS Tracking System, which is a proprietary single-use tracking system.

Prof. Dr. Med. Matthias Zumstein, a medical professional, emphasized that the augmented reality application not only improves precision but also seamlessly integrates into the surgical workflow, resulting in better patient outcomes and a more confident surgical experience.

NextAR Shoulder was developed in collaboration with leading orthopedic surgeons worldwide and is compatible with the comprehensive Medacta Shoulder System, allowing surgeons to select the most suitable implant for each patient. This innovative technology, already successful in Europe, the United States, Japan, and Australia, is part of the Medacta NextAR Augmented Reality Surgical Platform designed for various surgical procedures such as joint replacement and spine surgeries.