Computer Technology Assists Hip Fracture Surgery

A new computer assisted surgery system helps surgeons position a cephalomedullary nail lag screw more accurately, regardless of their level of clinical experience.

The Stryker ADAPT computer assisted surgery system is designed to assist surgeons in lag screw positioning by using proprietary adaptive positioning technology (APT). It is intended for use with the Gamma3 Locking Nail System, which consists of a cephalomedullary nail, a lag screw, and a distal locking screw. The cephalomedullary nail is placed into the canal of the femur, and then the lag screw is placed through the nail and into the fractured neck and head of the femur. The lag screw and nail together help unite the fracture, allowing it to become more stable to help promote proper healing.


The ADAPT computer assisted surgery system automatically identifies the Gamma3 Locking Nail relative to the patient's anatomy and provides computer guidance to assist the surgeon with implant alignment, lag screw length, and lag screw positioning. Proper positioning of the lag screw in the femoral head is an important aspect of achieving positive patient outcomes, since failure of a cephalomedullary nail may occur if the lag screw has not been properly placed within it. A "cut out" of the lag screw in the femoral head is one potential result, which may necessitate a revision surgery. The Stryker ADAPT and the Gamma3 Locking Nail System are products of Stryker (Kalamazoo, MI, USA).

“We are pleased to offer the ADAPT/Gamma3 technology which assists surgeons to more accurately position the lag screw, with no significant difference in procedure time,” said Jim Bruty, senior director of marketing at Stryker Navigation. “In addition, the number of X-ray images taken during the procedure can be reduced, which could potentially reduce the radiation exposure for the patient and the operating room staff.”

“Optimal lag screw placement has been identified as the primary factor in prevention of lag screw cut out,” said orthopedic surgeon James Maxey, MD. “The combination of clinical research, trauma engineering, and elegant positioning technology allows novice and expert surgeons to accurately place the lag screw. The Stryker ADAPT system is a great innovation and advance in hip fracture repair.”

Gamma3 nails are used to treat hip fractures that are the result of a fracture of the upper end of the femur. There are approximately 300,000 such hip fractures a year in the United States alone, most commonly caused by falls or from direct lateral impact to the hip.

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