Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi advances hip and knee Care with AI-assisted surgery

Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital has introduced an Advanced Hip & Knee Surgery Center, merging specialized orthopedic skills with AI-assisted surgical planning and rehabilitation services. This new center brings together four orthopedic surgeons to deliver personalized care for various hip and knee issues, ranging from degeneration and sports injuries to intricate fractures and joint replacement cases.

The center harnesses cutting-edge diagnostic and surgical-planning tools, such as AI-assisted techniques for evaluating knee alignment and joint angles, and digital templating technology for pre-surgery implant planning. By incorporating these technologies into patient care, the center strives to offer customized surgical planning based on each patient's unique anatomy, condition, and functional needs.

The orthopedic team at the center comprises Dr. Oussama Chaar, a Belgian board-certified surgeon with over 35 years of experience and more than 18,000 hip and knee replacements, alongside Dr. Hazem Zedan Hassouna, an Ireland-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. They are supported by Dr. Youssef Beheiry, a Specialist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and Dr. Alameldin Sobhe, a Specialist Orthopedic Surgery, all bringing more than a decade of expertise to the table.

The center's team also includes orthopedic nurses, anesthesiology staff, and physiotherapists. Dr. Chaar emphasized that hip and knee conditions can significantly impact a person's mobility, independence, and overall quality of life. Advances in surgical planning and technology are enabling more precise approaches to these conditions, but the center believes technology alone is not enough.

Careful patient assessment is crucial to determine the most suitable treatment. The center prioritizes exploring non-surgical options whenever possible and recommends surgery only when it offers clear clinical benefits. The Advanced Hip & Knee Surgery Center provides a range of surgical options, including minimally invasive techniques when appropriate.

For joint replacement patients, surgical planning takes into account factors like joint anatomy, bone structure, alignment, activity level, and clinical requirements. AI-assisted assessment and digital templating offer additional insights to assist surgeons in selecting appropriate implants and planning their positioning pre-operatively.

The center also caters to patients with complex orthopedic issues, including those requiring revision procedures following previous joint replacement surgeries. The center tailors treatment decisions to each case, considering clinical findings, patient expectations, and anticipated recovery outcomes. While advanced surgical capabilities are a key feature, the center adopts a patient-focused approach, avoiding surgery as a first-line treatment unless clinically necessary.

Patients undergo comprehensive assessments, and clinicians evaluate conservative and non-surgical treatments where suitable. Surgery is recommended only when it is clinically indicated and the anticipated benefits outweigh potential risks. The center ensures continuity of care throughout the patient's treatment journey, integrating initial consultations, diagnostic tests, treatment planning, surgery, hospital care, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up.

The multidisciplinary team, comprising orthopedic surgeons and supporting clinical staff, collaborates on treatment decisions and recovery plans.