Key points
- Research focuses on AI, surgical navigation, and joint balancing
- Newton knee technology improves ligament assessment
- AI aids image processing and planning for orthopaedic surgery
ISLAMABAD: Exactech, a global leader in medical technology, showcased 20 ground-breaking research studies at two of the sector’s most esteemed scientific gatherings this month: the 26th EFORT Annual Congress in Lyon, France, and the 2025 International Conference on Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery (CAOS) in Davos, Switzerland.
Covering advancements in machine learning, computer-assisted surgical navigation, and joint balancing technologies, Exactech’s research highlights its growing influence on personalised, data-driven orthopaedics, according to Ortho Spine News.
The company revealed new clinical data on its Newton® knee balancing technology, GPS navigation system, and AI-driven innovations.
Advancing orthopaedic surgery
“These studies demonstrate our ongoing commitment to advancing orthopaedic surgery through research, data science, and collaborative clinical development,” stated Laurent Angibaud, Senior Vice President of Advanced Surgical Technologies at Exactech. “We take pride in supporting our surgeon partners with insights that not only validate existing innovations but also help shape the future of surgical decision-making.”
- Exactech’s researchers presented several studies focused on utilising artificial intelligence to improve image processing, planning, and alignment classification, including:
- CT-based segmentation and measurement of shoulder muscles to aid preoperative arthroplasty planning
- Assessment of image segmentation uncertainty to boost the reliability and confidence of machine learning models
- A novel unsupervised machine learning classification technique for dynamic knee alignment during total knee arthroplasty, paving the way for future knee phenotyping
Ligament balancing technology
The Newton ligament balancing technology featured prominently in five studies, highlighting its clinical benefits and technological advancements. At the EFORT meeting, Pedro Torrijos, MD, PhD, from Madrid, Spain, presented a retrospective study involving over 2,800 total knee arthroplasty cases using a force-controlled gap-balancing technique with the Newton system.
Dr Torrijos commented, “These findings underscore the importance of objective intraoperative ligament assessment for enhancing stability outcomes.”
At CAOS, Omar Naji, MD, from Lunel, France, shared another large-scale study emphasising how Newton users can personalise soft-tissue balance management during total knee arthroplasty.
“With Newton, we no longer estimate ligament balance—we measure it,” said Dr Naji. “This GPS technology provides real-time, objective data during surgery, improving accuracy and helping us achieve better functional outcomes for our patients.”
