3 0 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E A U G U S T 2 0 1 7
doesn't feel right to a
fair percentage of
patients," says Cedric
Ortiguera, MD, an
orthopedic surgeon at
the Mayo Clinic cam-
pus in Jacksonville,
Fla.
It's estimated that
20% of joint replace-
ment patients are less
than thrilled with their
newly replaced knee. Despite the perfect post-op X-ray, the restored range of
motion and the vanquished pain, the artificial implant feels, well, artificial. It
just doesn't feel normal — the patient can tell which knee was operated on.
"We're all after that 20%," says hip and knee replacement specialist Neil P.
Sheth, MD, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Pennsylvania
Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. "Most hip replacement patients can't remember
which hip they had done a year later. We're trying to get there with knees."
More and more surgeons like Dr. Ortiguera and Dr. Sheth are turning to a new
partner to improve outcomes: a robotic arm that helps docs prepare the bone
with sub-millimeter accuracy and place the implant with spot-on precision.
"Robotic technology adds a new level of accuracy and precision to how we
insert the implants that's very difficult to reproduce with your hands," says Dr.
Ortiguera. "Plus, we can balance the ligaments better so patients will feel better
with the knee."
While the robot plays a vital role, it doesn't perform the surgery alone and it's
not a substitute for a surgeon's skill. "I do the surgery, I'm holding an instru-
ment. The robot guides my hand," says Dr. Ortiguera. "It won't make a bad sur-
geon a good surgeon, but it can help make a good surgeon better."
• ROBOTIC GUIDANCE Robot-assisted knee replacement improves the accuracy of bone
preparation, as well as implant alignment and fixation.
Northern
Westchester
(N.Y.)
Hospital
