Can an orthopedic surgeon design a better hip replacement implant than the major medical device companies?
Dr. Kurtis Biggs decided to find out.
In Episode 59, Dr. Matthew Sloan interviews Dr. Biggs, a fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon from Naples, Florida, who developed his own femoral stem, taking it from a hand-drawn sketch at his kitchen counter to FDA clearance and implantation in patients.
They discuss why he believed traditional hip implants could be improved, how he designed the Xerxes femoral stem to better accommodate natural hip anatomy, and the challenges of developing and manufacturing an entirely new orthopedic device.
Dr. Biggs shares his early experience with approximately 130 implantations, including complications, revisions, and preliminary clinical observations.
They also explore how long hip replacements really last, whether cementless or cemented stems are better, the advantages and limitations of anterior hip replacement, and how large medical device manufacturers influence which innovations reach patients.
Most importantly, they confront a critical question: What evidence do we actually need before calling a new hip implant better than an established one?
An inside look at surgical innovation, medical device development, and the future of hip replacement.
Note: The Xerxes femoral stem has received FDA 510(k) clearance, but long-term clinical outcomes and comparative superiority remain unproven.
Learn more at MatthewSloanMD.com and subscribe to The Joint Replacement Podcast for weekly conversations about hip and knee replacement.
