State-of-the-art robot assists in surgeries of patients having knee and hip replacements at UHDB
Patients who are having a knee or hip replacement at UHDB are benefitting from a state-of-the-art robot that helps assist their procedure, delivering more accurate, less invasive surgery, reduced recovery times, and improved outcomes for patients.
Royal Derby Hospital is believed to be the first centre in the East Midlands to have MAKO assisted robotic surgery and is one of a few hospitals in the country participating in the RACER clinical trial which assesses the benefits of this technology in lower limb joint replacement surgery.
Patients initially undergo a CT scan on their hip or knee joint, which with the help of sophisticated technology and computer programming, creates a personalised image and care plan for each individual patient. These images are then made available to clinicians during surgery to give them a detailed picture of the joint they are operating on.
All of this information is also fed through the robot itself which then assists the surgeon to make incisions with millimetric precision when they are fitting the new joint prosthetic to allow for better outcomes and improved rates of recovery for the patient.
Mr Simon Pickering, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said it is hoped that using the robot will also mean knee or hip replacements will last longer, benefitting both the patient and making joint replacements more cost effective for the NHS.
Mr Pickering said: "The robot helps us to put the replacement joint in the best position which means it is less invasive and painful for the patient, who is then likely to respond to rehabilitation better as a result of this.
"It will also have real benefits in terms of how long a patient stays in hospital. We want to reduce the number of nights a patient stays in hospital because it's better for their recovery and we think the robot will allow that. We also hope that the patient may have this functioning replacement for 20-25 years instead of 15 years which is great not only for the patient's quality of life, as we may be able to avoid a further operation in the future, but also makes the procedures far more cost effective for the NHS.
"If people are not having to have another operation because their replacement's worn out and patients are staying in hospital for one day instead of three, there will be some really good cost savings if it's proven to work. It's really exciting."
While the robot itself provides an innovative way to operate, it is also improving patient experience with patients having less invasive surgery and being allowed to leave hospital quicker than before with a better recovery.
Timothy Charlesworth has undergone knee replacements in both knees using the state-of-the-art robot, and although he said he was apprehensive at first, he said the results and his fast recovery were well worth it.
The 59-year-old, who lives in Alvaston, had a right knee replacement in June this year and was only in hospital for two days before he was discharged and could feel a good range of movement. He was so pleased with the outcome of the surgery that he requested the MAKO robot be used again when he had his left knee replacement in October.
He said: "It is a bit unusual but technology is amazing and changing all the time and I think it's wonderful that this equipment can be used to help people. I was a bit nervous but I knew the clinicians would only do what is best for me and now I can confidently say it was a good thing. There was no doubt in my mind that I would have the robot assisted surgery again if I got the chance."
The robot has been used for around 70 procedures since UHDB welcomed the machine in November 2022, and Mr Conal Quah, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who is leading the trial for the Trust, said it vastly improves the surgery patients receive.
He said: "There is real value in trialling new technology and advancing what we already know. While all these surgeons are very good and here in Derby and we have good results, this is the next level and I am a real advocate for this technology because I think it’s the best way for us to move forward in how we do things. The patients are really happy with what's been done and are making good progress."
You can catch our surgeons in action using the MAKO treatment robot on BBC East Midlands Today later this week.