In our latest #OurEntrepreneurs profile we meet cohort 8 Clinical Entrepreneur Mahmoud Alm Eldin Abdel Hafez, Locum Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I have been a pioneer and developer in the field of patient-specific templates (PSI) and custom-made guides for total knee arthroplasty (TKR) since 2001. I hold 21 patents related to patient-specific instruments and implants for bone and joint surgery. As an author, I have contributed to nearly 100 articles, including 24 book chapters and editorials. Furthermore, throughout my career I have received a number of awards including the UK Alumni Award from the British Council in 2018, as well as Gold Medals from the Geneva Inventions in 2014 and 2016 and the Hap Paul Award from ISTA in 2010.
Name: Mahmoud Alm Eldin Abdel Hafez.
Occupation: Locum Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Location: London.
I received my training in the UK and have dedicated nearly 15 years to working within the NHS. Additionally, I have undertaken arthroplasty fellowships at several institutions: Wrightington Hospital in Wigan, UK (2004), Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, USA (2004-2005), and St. Michael’s Hospital at Toronto University, Canada (2006).
I currently hold the position of Professor and Head of the Orthopaedic Department at the Faculty of Medicine, October 6 University. Additionally, I serve as a Visiting Professor at Cardiff University in Wales, UK, where I supervise PhD programmes. I am also a visiting Surgeon who has performed knee replacements and utilised patient-specific instruments (PSI) in over 10 countries across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia.
Tell us about your innovation
The challenge during knee replacement surgeries is detecting the position of the distal cut plane (angle) and anterior cut plane (angle) and the thickness of bone removal in the distal and anterior directions.
My innovation addresses these challenges by introducing a patient-specific template compatible with any conventional 4-in-1 cutting block from various implant manufacturers. This universal, open-platform solution accommodates implants and related instruments seamlessly. The technique involves a comprehensive virtual surgery within specific software, covering tasks such as sizing, implant alignment, bone cutting, and precise placement. It then produces two instrument pieces—the femur and tibia parts—for use as cutting guide blocks during the actual surgical procedure.
Supported by evidence from clinical trials and retrospective reviews involving over 1000 cases outside the United Kingdom, I believe this innovation offers significant benefits. For patients, it leads to improved outcomes, faster recovery, reduced complications, and the possibility of bilateral knee replacement. Surgeons benefit from enhanced visualisation, easier procedures, and improved performance. Additionally, the desired impact on the NHS includes cost savings, streamlined logistics, shorter waiting lists, and expanded opportunities for service transformation.
Why did you apply to join the programme, and what are you most looking forward to?
My innovative technology was developed during my tenure as a specialist registrar in the NHS while pursuing my medical degree at Leeds University. Consequently, I am eager to contribute and give back to the NHS by sharing my innovative solution.
With my personal values, career ambition and experience within the innovation landscape, I believed this programme would be the perfect fit for me.
I hope the programme will help me in implementing the novel technologies in NHS hospitals and on a wider scale.
What are your ambitions for the next year?
My ambitions for the next year are centred around achieving wider adoption of my innovative technology within the NHS.
Why do you think innovation is important in healthcare?
There are unmet needs for the increasing cost, long waiting lists of primary joint replacement and less optimal outcome of revision arthroplasty and other complications such as infection. These challenges can be addressed through my novel technology that can be used as a model, guide, planning, spacer for infection or custom-made implants. These modalities are validated and used in more than 1000 cases outside of the UK.
How can we find out more?
Please visit www.surginovi.co.uk for more information.