Researchers at the University of Southampton have completed a project that will enable surgeons to fit joint replacements with longer, optimised lifespans.
The MXL project uses computational modelling to define the mechanics of an artificial joint -- a complex interaction of individual anatomy, prosthesis design, sizing and placement -- to ensure successful surgery and longer lifespans of the prosthetic joints.
Professor Markus Heller, leader of the MXL project, says: "Joint replacement surgery substitutes worn-out joint tissues with artificial components. These artificial components will also fail eventually, some after only a few years, with nearly ten per cent of all joint replacement operations in the EU each year taking place to replace prosthetics that have worn out. These 'revisions' of joint replacement surgery are complex, require a longer rehabilitation and also come at a substantial cost, with a hip revision estimated to cost €80,000."
Surgeons today have to rely on their experience to best perform the joint replacement surgery to ensure long-lasting function. There are currently no solutions to support their decision process by reliable, quantitative information on the expected joint mechanics and functional outcome.
The ICT systems created by the MXL project, funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme, will enable cost-effective development of robust prosthesis designs. It will also support surgical decision-making to provide a safer route to optimal, functional outcome of joint surgery, independent of the surgeon's prior experience and training.
Professor Heller says: "We developed a 3D musculoskeletal model, with data on the variations in bone shape and tissue density, which has enabled advanced biomechanical assessment of the joint reconstruction. The development of this specialised software allows the automated positioning of implants and allows us to modify implant size and position, to address individual patient needs. The intention is, that this technology will lead to increased patient safety and improved lifespan of joint replacement prosthetics."
The MXL project consortium is now offering this unique technology to interested partners, in order to ensure that the ground-breaking developments are transformed into tangible benefits.
Notes to Editors
For more information and video, please contact:
Charlotte Woods, Media Relations, University of Southampton
Tel: 023 8059 2128
c.woods@soton.ac.uk
1. The MXL project enhances patient safety, by computational Modelling from clinically available X-Rays, to minimise the risk of overload and instability for optimised function and joint Longevity. For more information, please visit http://www.m-x-l.eu.
2. Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton represent the largest and most diverse engineering and environmental science grouping in the UK. Staff expertise looks deep below the Earth's crust, reaches into space and encompasses everything in between.
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With over 23,000 students, around 5000 staff, and an annual turnover well in excess of £435 million, the University of Southampton is acknowledged as one of the country's top institutions for engineering, computer science and medicine. We combine academic excellence with an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to research, supporting a culture that engages and challenges students and staff in their pursuit of learning.
The University is also home to a number of world-leading research centres including the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, the Optoelectronics Research Centre, the Institute for Life Sciences, the Web Science Trust and Doctoral training Centre, the Centre for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute and is a partner of the National Oceanography Centre at the Southampton waterfront campus. http://www.southampton.ac.uk