Custom joint implants are gaining traction
since, as opposed to traditional implants, patient-specific or personalized
orthopedic solutions can be designed and manufactured with extreme precision to
match a patient’s unique anatomy. For instance, custom-made knee joints have
been proven to result in better knee alignment than
off-the-shelf solutions.
The
orthopedic implants market, both traditional and customized, is valued at USD
45 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 68 billion by 2029. According to Dr. Šarūnas
Tarasevičius, an orthopedic surgeon at Nordorthopaedics Clinic, a leading
international orthopedic center in Kaunas, Lithuania, there are a number of
factors that influence the rapid growth of the implant and orthopedic surgery
market.
“The
global population is aging, and the prevalence of orthopedic diseases such as
arthritis, osteoarthritis, disc diseases, hip and knee pain, and low bone
density is on the rise. Traumas, accidents, and injuries are also
becoming widespread due to an increased active lifestyle,” the surgeon said.
“All this, coupled with the rising acceptance of implantable medical devices
and the fast advances in 3D imaging, modeling, and digital manufacturing, is
furthering the fast growth of the market.”
Time-consuming
widespread application
Despite
the advantages presented by patient-specific implants, designing,
manufacturing, and delivery of customized solutions are time-consuming, and in
some markets, such as North America, face reimbursement and surgeon acceptance
hurdles.
Research
published by the US National Library of Medicine indicates that custom implants promise a
personalized surgical approach with the aim of improving patient satisfaction.
That said, some studies have found no substantial clinical improvements in
postoperative validated outcome scores, risks of reoperation, and implant
alignment.
“To
this day, we do not have any significant, research-based proof, that custom
implants are providing better results in terms of function and longevity.
Currently, producing custom implants takes more time and radiation tests, and
there’s no reason to do this — in most cases, there’s no big advantage in using
custom-made implants,” added Dr. Tarasevičius.
Potential
risks during surgery
The
orthopedic surgeon also maintained that there are some risks attributed to
custom-made implants.
“If a
patient-specific implant is not made precisely, it can even result in
periprosthetic fractures. Moreover, the surgeon is given less freedom to make
on-the-spot decisions during the surgery,” Dr. Tarasevičius said.
For
this reason, orthopedic surgeons still go for traditional, off-the-shelf
solutions.
“The
market for orthopedic implants and the advanced technology involved is growing
in leaps and bounds, yet for the foreseeable future, it seems that the
traditional, ready-made solutions are here to stay and will account for a large
portion of procedures worldwide,” Dr. Tarasevičius concluded.
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