Naitive Technologies, a company developing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software for orthopedic care, began a research collaboration with Heraeus Medical, a leader in bone cements and biomaterials for surgical orthopedics and trauma surgery, and Sah Orthopaedic Associates, a northern California orthopedic practice.

The project will use Naitive’s OsteoSight to estimate prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with an AP hip or pelvic X-ray who have undergone primary elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at Sah Orthopedic Associates. The study will also evaluate the proportion of patients with low BMD estimated by OsteoSight who received cementless fixation.

The analysis hopes to offer data-driven analysis of current fixation patterns among patients with a variety of bone quality.

In the U.S., uncemented fixation is the most common approach for primary elective THA and its popularity is rising for primary elective TKA. Evidence suggests patients with low BMD can benefit from cemented fixation to reduce risk of intra-op and post-op peri-prosthetic fracture, implant loosening, and early revision.

“With an established history in joint fixation, we’re looking to explore how bone health and fixation choices intersect in real-world settings,” said Dr. Andrew Williamson, president of Heraeus Medical. “Characterizing bone density helps us understand where cemented fixation with PALACOS technology benefits patients with compromised bone quality.”

OsteoSight earned U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance in September. It opportunistically analyzes routine hip and pelvic X-rays in patients 50 and older and identifies those cases at risk of low BMD. It can be embedded into routine orthopedic clinical workflows without changing existing imaging protocols, Naitive said.

“We’re proud to be working alongside Heraeus and Sah Orthopaedics on this project,” said Dr. Will Briggs, CEO of Naitive. “OsteoSight is redefining how we care for bone health in the orthopedic workflow. When combined with the deep clinical and surgical expertise of our partners, it creates an opportunity to better understand and ultimately improve outcomes in joint replacement.”