Opinion | Know about Robotic Joint Replacement Surgery!

Osteoarthritis is a growing epidemic in India with incidence 15 times more than western nations. Presently, 200,000 joint replacements are performed annually with India expected to have the highest number in the world by the end of 2025. Conventional knee and hip replacement surgeries have been improving life of patients effectively over the last 3 decades in which planning is done right on the operating table where a surgeon’s skill and expertise is essential using specialized surgical instruments to reproduce near anatomical joints. This could be taken as one of the challenges in a conventional joint replacement surgery. Robotic joint replacement surgery (JRS) which is a new and exciting option for those needing knee or hip replacements. This new technology revolutionizes JRS by using robots to increase precision and accuracy resulting in shorter hospital stays, less pain and scarring, less blood loss, quicker recoveries, preserves more natural bone and soft tissues and improved outcomes for patients. Various robotic technologies are available in the market but ensuring the reliability and best is by checking FDA approval, clinical legacy and worldwide installs and surgeries performed with the technology. The choice of implants used in a robotic JRS is also critical to its success. MAKO Smart Robotics only uses implants that have scientific backup and global clinical data and evidence supporting their efficacy. Surgeon’s using MAKO cannot use locally made implants as the robot has a built-in mechanism to decline such implants, ensuring the highest quality and safety standards for patients. MAKO Smart Robotics combines 3 key components- 3D CT based planning, Accustop haptic technology and insightful data analysis into one platform that has shown better outcomes for your total knee, total hip and partial knee patients as compared to conventional surgery. Using this technology, we will now be able to create a personalized 3D virtual plan for each patient based on the CT based anatomy of hip and knee joint. This 3D model is then used to create a personalized surgical plan for each patient even before entering the operation theatre. MAKO Robotic arm allows surgeons to reproduce precise bone cuts for patients, every single time first on a virtual 3D model and then in the operation theatre. Having 3D capability allows surgeons to create a virtual boundary which protects and reduces injuries to soft tissue and thereby reducing trauma to the patients. The unique Accustop haptic feedback technology ensures that the surgeon remains within the virtual boundaries created thus, preventing injuries to the soft tissue. MAKO is a robotic arm that facilitates partial knee, total knee and total hip replacement in the same platform. MAKO is the world’s first FDA approved Robotic Arm assisted technology that delivers higher accuracy and precision for implant placement and sizing of partial knee, total knee and total hip replacement compared to conventional or navigation techniques. This system also allows surgeons to modify the surgical plan intra-operatively and assists in executing bone resections. We are particularly excited about bringing MAKO Robotic Arm Assisted Technology in Max Smart Superspeciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi. This is an important milestone in our endeavour to bring world class technology and treatment for patients needing partial knee, total knee and total hip replacement in our state.

– The writer is Senior Director and Head, Joint Replacement unit (Knee and Hip), Max SMART Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi