In orthopedics, everything revolves around precision. Especially when it comes to complex fractures or bones that haven’t healed properly, it is crucial for a surgeon to know exactly where and how to intervene.
At Orthoca, innovative 3D technology is used to achieve this.
From Pioneer to In-House 3D Lab
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Verstreken, specialized in hand and wrist surgery, has been working with 3D technology since 2009. What began in collaboration with an external partner has now evolved into a fully-fledged in-house 3D lab within the orthopedic Focus Clinic. Thanks to advanced imaging techniques, your bone can be mapped out in the finest detail.
This is especially useful for complex fractures, but also in cases where a fracture hasn’t healed properly. In such instances, the bone may have grown back together in the wrong position, causing chronic pain or limited mobility.
Prepared to the millimeter
Today, Orthoca uses this technology with more than 100 patients each year. With the help of 3D printing, each situation can be thoroughly analyzed in advance. Based on that information, the surgery is planned down to the millimeter. Custom-made instruments, such as drill and saw guides, are then printed to indicate the exact spots for cutting or drilling during the procedure.
Some patients even take their personalized 3D model home afterward — a tangible reminder of a procedure tailored entirely to their body and performed with the utmost care.
In some cases, the applications of 3D technology go even further. Titanium implants are 3D printed and permanently placed in the body. A great example is the procedure for young private driver Gevorgyan, who was treated with such an implant by Prof. Vanhees. While these implants are still produced via an external partner, they demonstrate just how advanced Orthoca’s use of this technology has become.
An internationally recognized approach
Orthoca is not only a pioneer in Belgium but also far beyond: patients from abroad travel here specifically for these treatments. The Orthoca team is regularly invited to share their expertise at international conferences and training programs for other physicians.
However, there is a downside to this remarkable innovation. Typically, the use of 3D technology is not reimbursed. This means the hospital, the orthopedic team, and sometimes even the patient must bear the costs themselves.
Dr. Verstreken hopes this will change in the future, so Orthoca can continue and expand this unique care.
One thing is certain: 3D technology has profoundly improved the way orthopedic surgeries are prepared and performed — and has often become indispensable. At Orthoca, you are in the hands of a team that ranks among the very best in this field!
