Latt Creates Minimally Invasive Guide for Hip Surgery

Dr. Daniel Latt, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and biomedical engineering, has created a new device to shorten the time of hip fracture surgeries.

Currently, hip fracture surgery using a sliding hip screw requires the surgeon to make an incision of about 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) through which the thigh muscles can be elevated to provide access to the side of the femur. This approach is time consuming and results in substantial blood loss. Latt has invented a device that guides the placement of the implant through the skin and soft tissues using X-rays – meaning the same surgery now only requires an incision of 2 inches (5 cm).

“I think the most exciting thing about this invention is that it allows us to do this surgery in a reproduceable way in a much smaller incision, with less time for the patient in surgery, which ultimately leads to less blood loss and shorter hospital stays,” said Latt.

Latt is also an established mentor in the Engineering Design Program, sponsoring several projects in the past few years, including a robotic device that will ultimately help people with damaged joints walk, and a brace system for elbow surgery patients.