GENEVA, Switzerland — Medimaps Group S.A., a leader in AI-powered bone microarchitecture imaging, has announced a new clinical collaboration with the National Spine Health Foundation (NSHF) to evaluate the effectiveness of its investigational software, TBS Reveal, in assessing bone fragility in patients undergoing spine surgery.
The research, to be conducted at Mayo Clinic under the direction of neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Elder, will explore whether TBS Reveal can identify patients at higher risk of complications due to undetected bone fragility—an often overlooked factor in surgical planning and recovery. TBS Reveal uses artificial intelligence to analyze standard preoperative X-rays and CT scans, generating a Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) and a Bone Fragility Index that provide a more nuanced picture of bone quality.
“In the U.S., more than 1.2 million spine surgeries are performed annually, and complication rates can reach as high as 46%, often due to poor bone health,” said Univ. Prof. Dr. Didier Hans, CEO and Co-founder of Medimaps Group. “Preoperative assessments of bone quality are critical for surgical planning and rehabilitation. Yet, bone fragility remains underdiagnosed in routine care. This study aims to evaluate whether TBS Reveal can fill that gap using widely available imaging and advanced AI interpretation.”
Dr. Elder, principal investigator for the study and a leading expert in spinal deformity, oncology, and regenerative surgery, also directs Mayo Clinic’s Stem Cell Therapeutics and Tissue Engineering Lab. His involvement signals the study’s potential impact on clinical practices for spinal care.
Originally developed as an opportunistic screening tool, TBS Reveal is now being studied for its potential use as a purposeful, on-demand assessment method for high-risk surgical populations. The partnership reflects Medimaps Group’s broader strategy to integrate AI-based tools into real-world clinical workflows, with the goal of improving surgical outcomes and advancing musculoskeletal care.
By collaborating with NSHF, a nonprofit dedicated to patient education and spine research, Medimaps aims to drive greater adoption of bone fragility assessment in clinical settings—particularly in procedures where undetected bone quality issues can significantly affect surgical success.
