14 DAY TRIAL // Arthritis is something that many people get with age, and it is usually a manageable condition, even if it causes constant aches. However, some cases can be particularly unpleasant. A windsurfer by the name of Koen is one of those cases.
Windsurfing has been Koen's passion for many years, but it has been getting more and more painful lately, to the point of becoming excruciating.
Even when not windsurfing, the man's left leg has been causing aches bad enough to make moving about challenging, let along going to and enjoying the beach.
How the problem was fixed
Dr. Jan Victor at the Universitair Ziekenhuis examined Koen and offered him to try osteotomy, a procedure whereby the bone itself is cut to make an adjustment that would remove all the issues.
3D printing technology was used in the planning of the surgery, since precision was most important. Any mistakes and the pain would just be made worse, not to mention the knee would wear down even further.
3D technology industry company Materialise helped with the design of the surgical plan, working with the doctor to make scans of the bones and create the surgical guide after that.
They even invited other surgeons, via the Submit Your Case section of their website, to contact them and offer more solutions for arms, legs, knees and shoulders, but we digress.
During the surgery, a wedge-shaped space was created in the bone, to place a supporting plate and screws at the proper angles.
Keon has now regained full use of his knee, full mobility, and can resume windsurfing at his leisure, which he probably has already done.
Conventional methods beaten
Prior to this procedure, surgery had already been attempted, a lateral menisectomy in which most of the meniscus (half-moon-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that divides the joint cavity) was removed.
Koen even underwent ACL reconstruction (anterior cruciate ligament, one of a pair of ligaments of the knee arranged in a kind of crossed formation), but it did not restore the mobility or eliminate the pain.
Fortunately, 3D printing technology has evolved enough that orthopedic surgeon Prof. Dr. Victor was aware of the possibilities when he was consulted at the University Hospital in Ghent, Belgium.
