PORTSMOUTH, N.H., March 11, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Dr. Moby Parsons, a joint replacement specialist at the Knee, Hip and Shoulder Center in Portsmouth, N.H., helped to pioneer a surgical navigation tool that is now being widely used around the world to improve the results of shoulder replacement. Termed GPS for Guided Personalized Surgery, this technology allows the shoulder surgeon to preoperatively plan the operation on a computer system and then recreate that plan with great accuracy using intelligent surgical instruments that can link the patient’s anatomy to the preoperative imaging.
The shoulder is a highly complex joint that undergoes wear and erosion from arthritis and tendon tears. Prior studies have demonstrated that when surgeons can better recreate a patient’s native anatomy during reconstructive surgery, outcomes are improved in terms of range of motion, function and implant longevity.
“GPS effectively gives us 3-dimensional, x-ray vision and greatly improves our ability to restore normal anatomy,” said Parsons, who has worked extensively with Exactech, Inc. in Gainesville, Fla. to bring this technology into the operating room.
Parsons, along with an international team of surgeons and engineers, helped to develop and validate the GPS system. Recently Parsons has worked with his team to research and refine standards in the preoperative planning process that may lead to better shoulder function, lower complications and improved implant durability.
“Comparing the way different surgeons approach the same case reveals that there is currently a lack on consensus about what is the ideal reconstruction for any given shoulder,” Parsons notes. His research aims to narrow the range of acceptable solutions to achieve greater precision during shoulder replacement.
Parsons’ research was recently selected for presentation at the International Congress for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery this September in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hosted every 3 years, this is the largest gathering of shoulder experts in the world and provides an international stage for the team’s work. “The acceptance of our study points to the widespread interest that surgeons have in these enabling technologies. We are honored to present our results and hope we can translate this work into improved standards for shoulder replacement in the future.”
Parsons and the GPS Design Team continue to advance the capabilities of this system through ongoing research and development. “We have made a substantial leap forward over the last 3 years, but there is much left to learn and a tremendous opportunity to leverage technological innovations in the operating environment for the benefit of better surgical results.”
Dr. Parsons performed a fellowship in shoulder surgery under famed, shoulder replacement pioneer Dr. Frederick Matsen. He is a founding member of the New England Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons where he recently hosted a panel discussion on computer-assisted preoperative planning. He is also a member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. His prior research has won the prestigious Charles Neer Award for excellence in clinical outcomes studies. He will also be presenting results of clinical research on the reverse shoulder replacement at this year’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nev. He currently operates at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H., Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H. and Atlantic Coast Surgical Suites in Seabrook, N.H.
Learn more at: https://www.orthopedicsnh.com/
News Source: Knee Hip and Shoulder Center