Medacta Adds Hip Application to its Augmented Reality Platform

Medacta Group SA has introduced NextAR Hip, a comprehensive augmented reality (AR) navigation system for total hip arthroplasty (THA). This application is the latest addition to the company’s NextAR platform, a proprietary AR solution for efficient, precise, real-time intraoperative guidance that already supports total knee replacement, shoulder arthroplasty, and spine procedures. 

Built on Medacta’s single-use active sensor and AR technology, the platform seamlessly integrates patient-specific, real-time data into the operative workflow, enhancing accuracy while allowing for personalized adjustments. Designed to support execution through key surgical steps, NextAR Hip accommodates both CT-based and CT-free workflows across anterior and posterior approaches. The first clinical cases using NextAR Hip have recently been conducted in Australia and the United States. 

“In today’s surgical environment, efficiency matters as much as accuracy. In my practice, NextAR Hip delivers both—providing advanced guidance without increasing operative burden or cost, making it highly relevant for modern ORs and ASC settings,” said Tyler Goldberg, M.D., with the Austin Orthopedic Institute (Texas).

NextAR Hip delivers real-time guidance for bone preparation, cup positioning, and screw placement, with accurate control over cup anteversion, inclination, reaming depth, as well as leg-length and offset assessment to support surgical decision-making and postoperative measurements. Whether leveraging a CT-based 3D preoperative plan or following a CT-free workflow, NextAR Hip can potentially eliminate or significantly reduce the need for intraoperative fluoroscopy, lowering radiation exposure for patients and OR staff, shortening procedural time, and reducing associated costs.

“With NextAR Hip, we can now bridge preoperative planning and the patient’s digital twin with real-time intraoperative feedback, moving beyond the constraints of standard fluoroscopy,” stated Jit Balakumar, with Ramsay Health Care in Australia. “The result is a more streamlined surgical process with the potential for greater patient safety, reduced radiation exposure, and a compelling economic advantage by reducing reliance on fluoroscopy and the need for a radiographer, while remaining affordable, scalable, and adaptable. This is the kind of innovation that has the potential to make advanced surgical precision more accessible across very different healthcare systems.” 

Developed in collaboration with surgeons, NextAR Hip leverages the full breadth of Medacta’s established hip implant and instrument portfolio. As part of the MySolutions Personalized Ecosystem— Medacta’s end-to-end platform of advanced digital solutions designed to help surgeons deliver personalized care—NextAR Hip reflects the company’s commitment to developing integrated innovations that address the individual needs of both surgeons and patients, executives claim.

Medacta’s commitment to surgical education remains central to the responsible and effective adoption of new technology. Through the M.O.R.E. Institute, Medacta provides structured training programs and hands-on education resources designed to support surgeons in integrating NextAR Hip into clinical practice effectively and confidently. CE marking and regulatory registration in Japan for NextAR are ongoing.

Medacta specializes designing, producing, and distributing personalized, sustainable solutions for joint replacement, sports medicine, and spine surgery. Established in 1999 in Switzerland, Medacta strives to improve patient care and well-being and maintains a strong focus on healthcare sustainability. Through close collaboration with expert surgeons globally, continuous investments in R&D, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, Medacta’s innovation prioritizes minimally invasive surgery and personalized solutions. Through the M.O.R.E. Institute, Medacta supports surgeons with a tailored program dedicated to advancing medical education. Medacta is headquartered in Castel San Pietro, Switzerland, and operates in more than 90 countries.