Augmented Reality Ushers in New Phase in Knee Replacement

Augmented reality (AR) has become a cornerstone of orthopedic surgery, and its role is only growing.

Case in point: Michigan large joint specialist Safa S. Kassab, M.D., has become the first U.S. surgeon to perform a total knee replacement using Pixee Medical’s Knee+ NexSight augmented reality (AR) glasses—a wearable heads-up display that delivers real-time surgical guidance directly into a physician’s vision field inside the operating room.

The milestone marks a significant advancement in surgical precision technology and reinforces Dr. Kassab’s position at the forefront of AR-assisted orthopedic surgery. Dr. Kassab* has performed more Pixee AR-guided knee replacement procedures than any surgeon in the world, according to Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County (Bloomfield, Clarkston, and Lake Orion, Mich.)>

“Augmented reality in the operating room is not a distant concept—it is here, and it is transforming the outcomes we can achieve for our patients,” Dr. Kassab said. “The Knee+ NexSight glasses allow me to keep my eyes on the patient while receiving precise, real-time navigational data in my line of sight. It represents a new standard for how knee replacement surgery can be performed, and I am proud that our patients in Michigan are the first in the country to benefit from this technology.”

Pixee’s new AR platform functions as an optical heads-up display, overlaying critical navigational information, including bone alignment, implant positioning, and surgical landmarks, directly into the surgeon’s visual field without requiring him or her to look away from the operative site. Unlike conventional navigation systems that rely on external monitors, the new platform keeps the surgeon’s attention focused and workflow uninterrupted. Additionally, the surgeon remains in complete control at every step. The AR system informs without intervening, a distinction that sets this technology apart from robotic and automated surgical systems, Pixee Medical bigwigs noted.

“This FDA clearance is a key milestone in Pixee’s mission to support orthopedic surgeons with efficient, accurate, and cost-effective solutions,” Pixee Medical CEO Sébastien Henry stated. “Knee+ NexSight was built specifically for the ASC environment, where TKA is increasingly being performed. We are honored that Dr. Kassab and his team completed the first U.S. case with us.”

Dr. Kassab’s patients have already experienced the impact of AR-guided surgery firsthand. “My results were amazing. A friend of mine near Atlanta, Georgia, also needs surgery, and I have encouraged him to consider this technology,” one of Dr. Kassab’s patients said of his AR-guided knee replacement.

Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County serves patients throughout the metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan areas. Founded by Dr. Kassab, the practice specializes in joint replacement, sports medicine, spine, and minimally invasive orthopedic procedures.

Pixee Medical develops augmented reality solutions for implant placement that offer orthopedic surgeons cutting-edge and clinically proven tools for precise and efficient surgery. Its first generation of products has already been used in more than 10,000 procedures in over 20 countries.

* Dr. Kassab is a paid consultant to Pixee Medical.