Advancing robotic technologies, a boon for knee and total hip replacements
Pune, 16th January 2025: Arcus Hospital based in Wanowrie today organised a special program to mark the milestone of 800 mako robotic surgeries for partial and total knee replacements and total hip replacements. Dr. Rohit Luthra, Joint Replacement and Arthroscopy Surgeon at Arcus Hospital, Dr. Juhi Luthra and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Dr. Rohit Luthra said that advancing robotic technologies are a boon to patients of partial and total knee and total hip replacements. Robotic systems are being used for greater precision for preparing bone for implant and accurately placing the replacement joint.
Dr. Luthra added that lesser blood loss, no muscle cut, more accuracy has resulted in reducing the hospital stay by about half.
A 3D scan helps develop a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy and is used by the surgeon to plan the surgery. The surgeon guides the robotic arm which aligns the implant to perfection and cuts only the portion that is needed and spares the bone tissues and surrounding muscles. The robot performs the procedure, with the surgeon maintaining overall control of programming and robotics.
The Mako Surgical Robotic System is considered the most accurate and advanced robotic surgical system in the world for hip and knee replacements, including partial knee replacements which can be complex surgeries.
Damage from arthritis is the most common reason for needing a hip replacement. Left unchecked, inflammation can lead to significant damage, causing a loss of function and disability. Arthritis can impact almost any part of the body, but most often affects the hip, knee, spine or other weight-bearing joints.
Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) bringing much relief to the patients
Arcus Hospital was one of the first in India to do the robotic bilateral hip replacement surgery with anterior approach in October 2023 . Since then more than 650 surgeries have been done with anterior approach with or without robotic system.
Dr. Rohit Luthara added that the Anterior approach or the ‘Front’ approach as it is called is a minimally invasive and muscle sparing procedure. In this procedure the incision is made from the front instead of back or side. The damaged bones or cartilage are removed without detaching muscles or tendons and are just pushed aside instead of cutting to allow the implant to be placed. This results in minimal damage to the muscles and since the muscles are not cut, the patient can sooner bear his or her weight and start walking. Robotic system adds pin point accuracy to the procedure including placing the implant into right position . It helps us in getting the exact offsets as per the patient’s native anatomy of the hip and there is minimal chance of implant malposition and the risk of dislocation is nearly zero.
One of the most crucial parts of robotic procedures is planning which ensure accuracy and safety for patients. The sizing of the implant is done with the CT scan before the operation. So we do a CT scan, we get a 3D virtual model of the hip and then we see what implant will best fit the patient and according to the anatomy the surgery is planned for the Robotic system to execute it to perfection. Also one very big advantage is that the limb length can be checked easily with this approach because the patient is lying supine ( flat on the back with face up) and not lying on side.
This approach is proving to be a game changer, he said.
