Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery in orthopedics has supplanted more traditional and invasive methods for many procedures, but the technique still relies on wired surgical cameras, light cords, and connected power sources. In September, NYU Langone Health took the next big step in this kind of surgery by successfully completing the first arthroscopy in the United States with an entirely wireless camera system that eliminates the need for the power and light cords.
Laith M. Jazrawi, MD, chief of the Division of Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, performed a knee arthroscopy with the advanced technology, the ArthroFree System made by Ohio-based medical technology company Lazurite. The first wireless camera for arthroscopy and general endoscopy had won FDA approval in March 2022. Just six months later, Dr. Jazrawi used the new system at NYU Langone Orthopedic Center to correct a displaced meniscal fragment causing knee locking in a 65-year-old patient. That patient, he says, recovered very well and was back to enjoying activities such as playing paddleball within two weeks.
“We’re proud to be the first medical center to use this innovative new technology that allows for more efficiency and flexibility in the operating room.”
Laith Jazrawi, MD
“We’re proud to be the first medical center to use this innovative new technology that allows for more efficiency and flexibility in the operating room,” says Dr. Jazrawi.
Among its potential benefits, the system’s elimination of power and light cords can reduce surgical setup and takedown times and costs while permitting more ergonomic and efficient surgical movements. In addition, the absence of fiber-optic cables may improve patient safety by reducing the risk of burns and healthcare-associated infections.
“The use of new types of advanced surgical technologies exemplifies our mission to bring patients the most recent advances in orthopedic surgery to improve outcomes and overall satisfaction,” Dr. Jazrawi says.
As a follow-up to his first surgery with the wireless camera, Dr. Jazrawi is already enrolling patients in a new clinical study to investigate wireless arthroscopy benefits and capabilities compared to its traditional counterpart.
