This technique is about to totally change, thanks to research carried out by an École Polytechnique team under the direction of Carl-Éric Aubin, full professor with the school's Department of Mechanical Engineering and researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine. Soon, surgeons treating patients like Marie-Claude will be able to "operate" on a three-dimensional model of the patient's spine and analyze the outcome before any actual surgery is performed.

"Without a doubt, orthopedics is one of the medical fields that stands to directly benefit from engineering methodologies," says Professor Aubin. "For an engineering researcher, the convergence of these two disciplines -- orthopedics and engineering, where technological solutions are applied to health problems -- is one of the most stimulating areas to work in." 

For his part, Dr. Labelle stresses: "Corrective scoliosis surgery is complex. Even though the surgical technique is well understood, the surgeon faces numerous difficulties: judging exactly where on the spine to intervene and what type of implant to use, as well as trying to anticipate the progress of post-operative spinal straightening. The projects developed with École Polytechnique will soon make the surgeon's task much easier."

Projects that are revolutionizing medical practice
In cooperation with the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, École Polytechnique's new NSERC/Medtronic Industrial Research Chair in Spine Biomechanics, directed by Professor Aubin, aims to develop a series of 3-D simulation and analytical software applications, along with new biomedical tools and support systems.

Endowed with a budget of nearly $3 million, the Chair stands to considerably advance surgery of the locomotive system.

Currently, Professor Aubin's team has no less than 15 projects on the go, including:

Virtual scoliosis surgical software
Created for surgeons, this pre-operative surgical simulation tool allows surgeons to test the effects of the operation and plan which implants to use to obtain optimal correction.

Virtual operating room
Adapted from the preceding tool, the virtual operating room functions in an immersive virtual environment. The project was developed in conjunction with Dr. Labelle and Professor Benoît Ozell of the Department of Computer Engineering at École Polytechnique. Mainly destined as a surgical training tool, the platform -- which re-creates the conditions of an actual operation -- allows surgeons to operate on various clinical cases that have been modelled in 3-D. It also allows medical personnel to conduct distance analysis of actual patients whose cases have been reconstituted in 3-D, and determine the best surgical approach.

A new operating table
Since the patient's position on the operating table can significantly affect the surgical outcome, the Chair's team has developed a new multifunctional operating table for all forms of spinal surgery.

"Smart" micro-implants
Micro-staples aimed at replacing the current correctional apparatus (screws, rods and hooks) will exploit the potential of body growth while making the surgery less invasive and improving postoperative patient mobility. Other surgical devices are also under development.

"Our projects are the fruit of an exceptional collaborative effort between engineers and medical personnel," says Professor Aubin. "I truly believe that we are entering a new era of medical practice."

High hopes for patient quality of life
Of the 10% of teens with scoliosis who must wear orthopedic corsets, approximately one-tenth will undergo surgery. Both forms of treatment take their toll physically and psychologically, as Marie-Claude Pastorel affirms: "Wearing a rigid corset for over 20 hours a day for years can be hard, especially for a teen! As for the surgery, I was lucky: my scars weren't too big. But some people have scars all down their backs."

The projects developed by the Chair, on the other hand, allow for earlier intervention and optimal results:

* Better-designed corsets allow spinal curvature to be corrected more quickly and to a greater degree.
* Surgery, when necessary, is less invasive since -- as opposed to the current operation -- micro-staples can be positioned endoscopically. As a result, scarring is considerably reduced.
* Carrying out surgery before young patients have finished growing allows the bone-growth process to be exploited. What's more, vertebrae will no longer need to be fused, resulting in greater mobility for the patient.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, patients are very enthusiastic about these new practices and the promise they hold. The Chair team has had no difficulty recruiting volunteers: already more than 8,000 patients have participated in research protocols over the last decade. Marie-Claude Pastorel is proud to have been among them.

A partnership that positions Québec as a world leader in the treatment of spinal conditions
Bringing together an extremely effective multidisciplinary team, the Chair's research falls under Musculoskeletal Diseases and Movement Sciences, one of CHU Ste-Justine's six priority research focuses supported by the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ).

"The creation of this Chair is cause for celebration on more than one level," says Dr. Guy Rouleau, head of the CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre. "Not only does it represent hope for the patients, it also demonstrates the solid partnership between CHU Ste-Justine and École Polytechnique. These projects enable the development and maintenance of a unique, Québec-based expertise in orthopedic surgery. Through this rewarding association, CHU Ste-Justine has become a world leader in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis."

Terry A. Finley, Medtronic of Canada's Director of Sales and Marketing (Spinal and ERT Products), adds: "Because medical technology is the core of Medtronic's activities, we are proud to be associated with the Chair's work in spine biomechanics, an irrefutable force for innovation. The projects that emerge from this partnership will open up new horizons in medical instrumentation."

For École Polytechnique, the benefits of the partnership are extremely positive in more ways than one. "Working with the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre helps Polytechnique maintain its lead in biomedical engineering training and research," says Robert L. Papineau, Director-General of Polytechnique. "We would like to mention the vital role played by our partners: the NSERC, which regularly supports Polytechnique's scientific initiatives; and our industrial partner, Medtronic of Canada. Thanks to their support, the Chair is in a position to strengthen its research activities for the years to come and to expand its team." Mr. Papineau added: "We would also like to reaffirm our pride at having among our ranks world-class professor/researchers who are working to develop their knowledge for the benefit of society."

Polytechnique has developed an enviable expertise in the field of biomedical engineering. In fall 2008, the school will offer the first and only undergraduate degree in Québec specializing in biomedical engineering.

Founded in 1873, École Polytechnique de Montréal is one of Canada's leading engineering institutions in terms of both teaching and research. It is the largest engineering school in Québec as regards its student population and the scope of its research activities. École Polytechnique provides instruction in 11 engineering specialties and is responsible for more than one-quarter of university research in engineering in Québec. The school has 230 professors and nearly 6,000 students. Its operating budget is $85 million, in addition to a $68-million research and infrastructure fund that includes $38 million in grants and contracts. Polytechnique is affiliated with Université de Montréal.
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Source:

Chantal Cantin       
Communications and Recruitment Office
École Polytechnique de Montréal
chantal.cantin@polymtl.ca

Information:

Andrée Peltier
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Tel.: (514) 846-0003
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