Interview with
Dr Peter Van Seymortier

Dr Van Seymortier, what is your understanding of the bonepreservation philosophy?

Even though a total hip replacement is a standardised procedure, innovation remains important. The greatest benefit is to be gained from an optimisation of the components, both in terms of shape and choice of materials. 
Where previously mainly the geriatric sedentary population was operated on, we now see a shift to the active young retiree and the still working population. This shift creates a certain pattern of expectations in the patient: They wish to resume their daily, professional, and sporting activities without too many restrictions. All of this makes innovation a necessity, whereby the aim must be to use materials with optimal long-term results in terms of wear, stability, and mobility. In addition, increasing emphasis is being placed on preserving patient-specific anatomy and biomechanics, which leads to fewer complaints and faster postoperative rehabilitation.

Well established prosthetic models over many years show good clinical results, which are also documented in registries. Where does the bonepreservation system make the difference from the clinician's point of view?

The concept of 'bonepreservation' was embraced, in which the aim is to preserve the patient’s unique anatomy and biomechanics in combination with an innovative choice of materials. The shorter anatomical optimys stem makes it possible to respect the patient's individual anatomy in a bone and soft tissue sparing way. The RM Pressfit vitamys cup, made entirely out of vitamin E blended highly crosslinked polyethylene, can provide excellent long-term results in terms of wear, stress shielding, and survival. Both components are ideal in the context of rapid recovery rehabilitation protocols and are well documented in the registries.

«Patients are very satisfied with the bonepreservation system.»

Does use of the bonepreservation system have an influence on your patients’ satisfaction?

Exact reconstruction of the individual anatomy and biomechanics, reduction of stress shielding, achieving adequate primary and secondary stability and providing a low wear articulation in a bone and soft tissue sparing manner – both on the femoral and acetabular side – results in a superior clinical outcome, both short and long term. This leads to greater satisfaction on behalf of the patient and a faster postoperative rehabilitation. Optimised choice of materials will reduce stress shielding and wear induced osteolysis leading to encouraging clinical long-term results with a reduced revision rate.

From your point of view, how important is the recently launched RM Pressfit vitamys hooded cup and which clinical challenges does it address?

The RM Pressfit vitamys cup is based on the proven titanium particle coated RM Pressfit monobloc design. It has improved preservation of bone, thaks to its elasticity and reduced wear rates due the vitamin E blended highly crosslinked polyethylene. This implant is already ticking all the boxes. The RM Pressfit vitamys hooded cup is the latest extension of the Mathys bonepreservation hip implant family and a welcome addition to the isoelastic success story. This hooded monobloc implant provides extra stability, further reducing the risk of dislocation and reoperation. Available for use in primary total hip replacement, this implant can also be preferred in patients with a higher perceived dislocation risk.

«Implantation of the RM Pressfit vitamys hooded cup requires no further learning curve.»

What was your first experience with using the new implants and instruments?

After years of intense preliminary scientific research and testing, the worldwide first implantation of the RM Pressfit vitamys hooded cup was successfully performed on October 11, 2021. The surgery with the new implant and instrumentation platform went smoothly. The patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery, during which she was able to resume all of her daily and sporting activities without any specific limitations. 
The newly developed instrumentation platform is easy to use, straightforward, usable in various surgical approaches and requires no additional learning curve. Meanwhile no implant or instrumentation related issues were identified.
 

Dr Van Seymortier, thank you for this interview!