Chinese medical team completes first AI-assisted total hip replacement in Guinea

The 31st Chinese medical team in Guinea completed the country's first artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted total hip replacement, in collaboration with local doctors at the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital on May 13.

The 41-year-old patient suffered from dysplasia of the left acetabulum, and his mobility was severely impaired due to prolonged wear and tear on the bone and joint. Chief surgeon Diao Naicheng collaborated with his colleague radiologist Liu Peng and a domestic team through video link to perform high-precision three-dimensional modeling of the patient's bone structure using advanced AI technology.

Diao Naicheng, an orthopedic expert of the 31st Chinese medical team in Guinea, performs an operation on a patient at the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, on May 13. [Photo/Xinhua]

The AI system not only rapidly reconstructed the complex morphology of the patient's bones but also simulated multiple surgical plans through big data analysis, intelligently recommending the optimal solution. The team conducted meticulous preoperative planning accordingly, making tailored plans from the selection of prosthesis size to the calculation of the implantation angle, striving to ensure an ideal match between the prosthesis and the patient's native bone structure.
The entire procedure lasted 90 minutes and was successfully completed through the collaborative efforts of medical personnel from both China and Guinea. Through the remote consultation system, the Chinese medical team achieved real-time data sharing with experts based in China, effectively addressing limitations in local medical equipment. Postoperative monitoring confirmed that the patient's vital signs were stable, and the patient was anticipated to be able to ambulate with the assistance of a walker within one week.

Diao Naicheng, an orthopedic expert of the 31st Chinese medical team in Guinea, conducts preoperative examinations for the patient at the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, on May 13. [Photo/Xinhua]

"This represents a groundbreaking integration of AI technology and modern medicine on the land of Africa", said Diao, "By leveraging cloud collaboration technology, we have transcended geographical barriers and unreservedly shared our digital orthopedic expertise with Guinea, thereby enhancing medical services for local patients". 
Head of the team Wang Bin said that this surgery not only filled the technological gap in Guinea regarding AI-assisted total hip replacement, but also served as invaluable practical reference for the future development of orthopedic robotic surgeries. The team plans to establish a joint laboratory on digital orthopedics, in a bid to continuously elevate Guinea's medical technology capabilities through initiatives such as technology sharing, academic exchanges, and personnel training, Wang added.