Accurate resection of bone tumor and preservation of knee extension with patient-specific guides

At the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Dr. Thomas Schubert treated a patient with a tumor located on the tibial tuberosity, a key region for knee extension.

The challenge was significant: to remove the tumor while preserving the patient’s ability to extend the knee, therefore mobility and autonomy. The situation was made even more delicate by the necessity to remove the patellar tendon at its insertion point.

Thanks to meticulous preparation, combining medical imaging and patient-specific cutting guides, Dr. Schubert was able to perform a precise resection.

No fracture lines were created: only the space necessary for reconstruction was carefully prepared.

A double surgical approach was used, and K-wires acted as mechanical stops to secure each step throughout the procedure.

A second guide for the reconstruction was designed to create a perfect fit allograft for this case.

At the end of the resection, the patellar tendon was reattached to the remaining healthy portion, thus preserving knee extension function.

This technical achievement reflects the attention paid to every detail to offer the patient the best possible recovery outlook.

We sincerely thank Dr. Schubert and his team for their trust and collaboration in this case.

#3dcut #supersurgeons #preoplanning #cuttingguide