A patient-centred healthcare network for orthopaedic hand and wrist care

This thesis is initiated by the Reinier Haga Orthopaedic Centre (RHOC) and shows the creation of a patient-centred healthcare network for orthopaedic hand and wrist care. A healthcare network can be defined as a group of interconnected stakeholders that directly or indirectly influence the patient’s care. In this project, the involved...

A Clear Cut Case: The Development of a Surgical Instrument for Orthopaedic Surgery

Introduction - Arthritis is a condition causing pain, deformations and loss of motion in human joints. The surgical instruments used to place a specific unconstrained prosthesis that is used to treat an arthritic joint are difficult to use. The objective for this thesis is to improve the current placement procedure by carrying out an analysis on...

The LVATE brace as a tool to delay total knee replacement surgery for patients with knee arthritis

During the course of this thesis, the design of a knee brace that improves the quality of life for people with arthritis in the knee, is being researched. The knee joint is covered with articular cartilage which protects the bones from being damaged. Arthritis of the knee is a pathology where this cartilage is damaged potentially even to the...

Optical performance and drilling forces of an orthopaedic DRS drill with a stagnant optical probe

Introduction. In spinal surgery, the misplacement of spinal screws is a problem that causes (severe) pain, bleedings or even paralysis [2]. Screw misplacements are common as navigating in the spine is difficult due to the small vertebral dimensions and a lack of anatomical landmarks [3] [4]. In order to improve the navigational support of spine...

Optical performance and drilling forces of an orthopaedic DRS drill with a stagnant optical probe (Article): An article on a Biomedical Engineering Master thesis about orthopaedic DRS drilling at the Delft University of Technology

In spinal surgery, the misplacement of spinal screws is a common problem that causes (severe) pain, bleedings or even paralysis [1] [2] [3]. In order to improve the navigational support of spine surgeons, this research focuses on the development of an optical sensing diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) orthopaedic drill that identifies bone...

Improving hip revision surgery: by integrating a procedure, instrument set and instrument for bone cement removal

When people experience pain, discomfort or motion limitation in their hip joint they can get a hip implant. This implant improves the movement and decreases the pain and discomfort. Due to several reasons such an implant needs revision after ten to fifteen years. This revision surgery is a long and invasive surgery. When an implant is fixated...

Improving collaboration in the work-directed care for knee-replacement patients: Facilitating collaboration between the occupational physician and orthopaedic surgeon in the return-to-work guidance of knee-replacement patients, by design

Currently 30% of all knee prosthesis patients do not return to work after surgery. This is partially caused by the insufficient guidance of the patient's care providers. the most important care providers in this are the occupational physician and orthopaedic surgeon. The current collaboration is experienced by both the occupational physician and...

Design, Development and Testing of a Navigator to Guide Minimally Invasive Osteotomy Surgery

Corrective osteotomy is the treatment for malunion of bone segments, which is required after insufficient fracture management. To perform this procedure adequately, 3D imaging is used to make a virtual plan of the osteotomy. In order to transfer this virtual plan to the patient in the operating room, a navigation method is required. Existing...

Improving Teamwork in the Orthopaedic Clinic by Design

The primary aim of this project was to explore how design can improve teamwork in the orthopaedic clinic. Literature shows that in the healthcare sector, increasing attention is given to teamwork dynamics. In fact, studies demonstrate that communication and teamwork failures contribute significantly to the amount of adverse events. Moreover, it...

Tailoring rehabilitation consults in orthopaedics by design

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder for elderly above the age of sixty-five. A Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) surgery is an effective and common solution for moderate to severe osteoarthritis. After THA surgery patients start a rehabilitation phase in which they have to comply to a rehabilitation regimen. This rehabilitation phase...

Visualization for the Planning and Guidance of Minimally Invasive Cement Injection in Orthopaedics

Minimally invasive refixation by cement injection is a novel technique, performed at the Leiden University Medical Center for the revision of failed hip implants. During this procedure, the surgeon inserts needles into the periprosthetic space of the femur, to inject new cement for the fixation of the prosthesis. For that, two intra-operative...

Rehabilitation device that supports post-operative orthopaedic patients in recovering function after total hip or knee arthroplasty

This executive summary summarizes the graduation project of Sharon-Dewi Stolp, student at Delft University of Technology. This graduation project originates from a frequently asked question by patients recovering from joint replacement surgery of the lower extremity. Orthopaedic surgeon dr. Sewnath experienced at the Vlietland hospital a lot of...