Custom-Made Knee Replacement

Individualised implants for optimal outcomes

The future of knee replacement, today

Custom Made Knee Replacement procedures represent a significant advancement in orthopaedic surgery, employing Patient-Specific Instrumentation (PSI) and cutting-edge 3D printing technology to produce customised implants for patients.

The procedure begins with a comprehensive 3D CT scan of the patient’s knee, which is processed by a team of biomedical engineers in Switzerland. A virtual 3D model of the knee is used to determine optimal implant size, shape and positioning. A 3Dprinted knee implant is then produced using high-grade materials to ensure durability and a precise fit.

The precision of this technology improves the accuracy of implant positioning. By ensuring an exact fit, these custom solutions assist rapid recovery and help to optimise patient outcomes.

The benefits of custom-made knee replacements

The advanced technology and procedures used in our custom knee replacement procedures have a range of benefits:

Perfect Fit, Optimal Function: Custom knee replacement procedures use advanced 3D imaging and printing to create implants that match the unique contours of each patient’s knee, ensuring a perfect fit for optimum functionality and comfort.
Reduced Surgical Risks: Using patient-specific data and implants these procedures may be less invasive, leading to reduced risk of complications, less postoperative pain, and quicker recovery times.
Long-Lasting Implants: Our custom-made implants are crafted from high-grade materials using precise 3D printing techniques, resulting in a more durable and wear-resistant knee replacement that can withstand the demands of daily activity.

Case Examples

Robotic Knee Replacement

Robotic knee replacement surgery offers enhanced precision, customisation, and improved outcomes for patients. This procedure utilises robotic arms and computer technology to assist surgeons, enabling real-time imaging, precise bone cutting, and optimal implant placement based on the patient’s unique anatomy.

Mr Freedman starts with a CT scan to create a 3D model of the knee, helping with a detailed surgical planning. During the surgery Mr Freedman controls the robotic arm to execute the plan accurately, preserving healthy tissues.

The benefits include:

Enhanced Precision: High accuracy in bone cutting and implant positioning, reducing the risk of misalignment.
Customisation: Tailored surgery for each patient, ensuring a better fit and more natural function.
Quicker Recovery: Less tissue damage leads to reduced pain, faster recovery, and a quicker return to daily activities.
Extended Implant Lifespan: Accurate placement reduces wear and tear, potentially extending the implant’s lifespan.
Better Outcomes: Improved range of motion and stability, enhancing the quality of life post-surgery.

Precision-engineered implants

Our procedure uses advanced technology to create an implant designed specifically for your knee, ensuring perfect fit and optimised function.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the implant made?

The implants that Mr Freedman chooses to use for most of his knee replacement procedures are Swiss made. The 3D-printed patient-specific instruments are also made in Switzerland.

Is there any added cost in having this technology used for my knee replacement?

No, not in Australia.
Personalised technology itself is expensive overseas as a high definition scan is performed, sent to expert engineers overseas who need to spend considerable time analysing the images, single use instruments need to be be made via 3D printing, sterilised and then couriered back to Australia but all this is FREE for Australian patients.

In Australia, the implant manufacturer is able to include this technology without additional cost to the patient.

How much does it cost to have knee replacement surgery?

Mr Freedman sets his fees below the recommended fee schedule (i.e below AMA recommended fees) to try to improve accessibility for patients. Your fees will depend on the level of your insurance policy and the complexity of your surgery. A written quote will be provided at your consultation.

Is patient-specific (PSI) knee replacement and robotic knee replacement the same thing?

No. PSI and robotics are both new technologies in knee replacement but work in different ways. In robotic knee replacement an intraoperative robot is used in the surgery to assist with implant positioning. In PSI knee replacement the surgery has been pre-planned with virtual simulation and then executed with 3D printed custom instruments.

Do you see any disadvantages with patient-specific knee replacement technology?

A minor inconvenience is that it does take approximately 3-4 weeks for the patient-specific instruments to be manufactured in Switzerland and then delivered to Australia. Patients therefore need to wait a few weeks from their consultation until surgery.

This is usually not much of an issue as patients usually need some time to get themselves ready for surgery anyway, but this technology is therefore generally not used for urgent cases such as fracture care. If you require surgery urgently, Mr Freedman will perform your surgery through a more traditional (but still very reliable) technique.

Why don’t all surgeons utilise this patient-specific knee replacement technology?

There are several very accepted methods available to perform knee replacement surgery and surgeons will generally use whatever method or system they are most familiar with, how they were trained, and where they are able to achieve good results. The traditional methods for knee replacement involve using either manual instruments or computer navigation. PSI instrumentation is relatively new and is not offered by all orthopaedic implant manufacturers and many surgeons are not familiar with the technology.

I have read of both CT and MRI PSI systems? Which does Mr Freedman prefer?

Mr Freedman prefers the CT-bases system. In his experience, the quality and nature of a patient’s cartilage can change in a short period of time and therefore MRI systems which rely on cartilage and soft tissue mapping may not be as accurate. CT-based systems which rely on bone mapping are more consistent. As a secondary bonus, CT scans are much less expensive (and in fact bulk-billed for Mr Freedman’s patients).

Will a tourniquet be required during patient-specific knee replacement surgery?

No. An uninflated, loose-fitting tourniquet is placed on the upper thigh prior to surgery but it is not utilised for most of the operation. By leaving the tourniquet uninflated, a major cause of knee discomfort after knee replacement is avoided. The tourniquet may be inflated for a few minutes just at the time when the prosthesis is being secured onto the bone but then is quickly let down again. Mr Freedman’s technique is different to many surgeons who leave the tourniquet inflated for the entire length of the procedure.

Which hospital is this surgery available at?

This technology is available at all of the hospitals where Mr Freedman operates.

How is patient-specific knee less invasive than other techniques?

In traditional knee replacement, large rods are passed up inside the bones (intramedullary rods) to calculate the angles of the joint. In computer-navigated and robotic knee replacement, pins are drilled into the bones to communicate leg position to the computer or robot. In contrast, in PSI knee replacement there is no rod and no pins as the custom printed guide is individually produced for each surgery and fits precisely to each individual knee.