We are thrilled to announce a ground-breaking achievement by the Trauma and Orthopaedic department at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT). Recently, our team became the first in the UK to successfully perform a fully bespoke shoulder replacement surgery using the cutting-edge Medacta Shoulder System.
The department routinely performs shoulder replacement surgery, a procedure that addresses conditions such as severe shoulder pain from arthritis, weakness, and restricted mobility due to arthritis as well as fractures. This is achieved by implanting a base plate into the shoulder socket. However, in a recent extraordinary case, the patient’s shoulder socket was severely worn, leaving insufficient bone for a standard shoulder replacement. This meant that a fully bespoke solution was required.
In collaboration with Swiss surgical innovation and implant company, Medacta, our surgical team worked together to design a sterile 3D printed implant that was precisely tailored to the patient’s unique anatomy. This bespoke approach allowed for a full shoulder replacement, offering greater predictability in pain relief and mobility restoration compared to a partial replacement. Furthermore, the custom implant minimised bone removal, leading to reduced operating time and anticipated superior post-surgical outcomes.
Remarkably, the entire process—from sourcing and manufacturing the implant to completing the surgery—was accomplished in just six weeks, marking a significant milestone for patient care and innovation.
Speaking about this milestone, the Trust’s trauma lead and Consultant Upper Limb and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Nik Bakti said: “This was the best option for the patient and I am glad that as a team, we were able to provide the highest quality of care for the patient.”
This remarkable achievement underpins the Trust’s commitment to pushing the boundaries through innovation and collaboration to deliver outstanding patient care.