Medacta’s Unveiling of GMK SpheriKA Continues Across Europe, Featuring Innovative Personalized Solutions at SIOT 2024 in Italy

CASTEL SAN PIETRO, 13 November 2024 - Medacta Group SA (“Medacta”, SIX:MOVE), is pleased to announce the presentation of GMK SpheriKA, the first femoral component for total knee replacement optimized for kinematic alignment at the SIOT 2024 Conference in Rome, Italy, on October 29-31. The launch events featured contributions from esteemed faculty members, who shared their expertise and insights on the Kinematic Alignment technique and the GMK SpheriKA implant.

"There is an increasing interest within the scientific community regarding kinematic alignment, driven by its potential to significantly enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction," commented Dr. Adravanti after the launch event.

Despite the excellent longevity of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), many patients continue to experience functional deficits after surgery. Patient expectations are not as well fulfilled by TKA as by total hip replacement, with fewer knee patients achieving a “forgotten joint” replacement. Studies show that around 20% of TKA patients are not satisfied ^{[1, 2, 3]}. In response to these challenges, the Kinematic Alignment technique, initially developed in collaboration with Dr. Howell, has emerged as a proven solution for shortening this clinical gap: several peer-reviewed studies have shown it to improve patient outcomes ^{[4, 5, 6].} It enables the surgeon to restore the natural knee shape and specific knee alignment based on the patient's unique anatomy without the need for ligament release.

Highlighting the significance of this development, Prof. Bellemans stated, “We are today witnessing a historical revolution in knee arthroplasty, where implants have now become available that are compatible with the restoration of the patient’s native geometry and kinematics!”.

At the events, attendees had the opportunity to learn more about GMK SpheriKA. Built upon the legacy of the GMK Sphere's Ball-in-Socket design, which was based on the knee anatomy and kinematic studies conducted by Prof. Michael Freeman and Prof. Vera Pinskerova^[7], GMK SpheriKA offers patients an implant that potentially feels more natural and stable during daily activities, replicating the movement of the healthy knee. GMK SpheriKA is the first knee system specifically designed based on the principles of Kinematic Alignment, which allows surgeons to better accommodate optimal patella tracking in a wider range of patients.

Emphasizing the potential impact of this combination, Dr. Madonna added: “Preliminary results and patient outcomes with GMK SpheriKA and the Kinematic Alignment technique are extremely promising. This combination may significantly enhance patient satisfaction and functional outcomes after knee replacement surgery. “

GMK SpheriKA is part of MyKA, Medacta's complete platform for Kinematic Alignment. This innovative system provides surgeons with the most comprehensive tools and techniques to perform KA procedures with precision and confidence.

Underscoring the biomechanical advantages of this approach, Prof. Victor said, “Integrated medial stability with biomimetic kinematic performance is the natural solution to the long-standing total knee enigma: how to recreate physiologic ligament loading in the resurfaced knee joint.”

In addition, Medacta showcased the NextAR Augmented Reality Surgical Platform, which leverages patient-specific, unique, real-time data to efficiently complement the operative workflow, enabling data-driven decision-making based on each patient's unique anatomy and biomechanics. NextAR is offered as a hardware system with limited capital investment and single-use instrumentation at a low cost per case and offers the ability to host software for multiple applications. NextAR is part of the MySolutions Personalized Ecosystem, a network of advanced digital solutions designed to improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency during the entire episode of care.

All Medacta products, including GMK SpheriKA and NextAR, are supported by the comprehensive, tailored educational offerings provided by the M.O.R.E. Institute. With an international network of expert surgeons, the M.O.R.E. Institute is at the forefront of education with personalized, high-level educational pathways. With Medacta, the surgeon is never alone. 

A special thank you to the esteemed faculty members P. Andravanti, J. Bellemans, S. Campi, E. Franceschetti, V. Madonna, M. Malavolta, L. Sabatini, F. Traina, C. Sosio, and J. Victor for their invaluable contributions and insights that enriched our discussions at the SIOT 2024 Conference.

Medacta showcased its innovative GMK SpheriKA knee implant at several European Congresses, including the SOFCOT Congress held in Paris from November 11-13, 2024. On November 12, a dedicated launch event took place featuring presentations by Dr. Sappey-Marinier and Dr. Marchetti. The two experts shared their insights and preliminary findings on Kinematic Alignment in synergy with the GMK SpheriKA implant.