Mckinney Courier-gazette > News
Medical center introduces robotic technology for knee, hip surgery
Chris Beattie/Staff Photo - Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Snow demos his facility's newest asset, MAKOplasty, a robotic arm that assists in knee and hip procedures, on Wednesday at Medical Center of McKinney. The hospital has already used the technology for three surgeries in the past two weeks.
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@starlocalnews.com
There's a new doctor's assistant at Medical Center of McKinney, and its name is MAKOplasty.
The hospital last week launched use of the $1.2 million robotic technology that enables surgeons to perform hip and knee replacements with unprecedented precision.
"It's new in general and very new to the area," said Dr. Brian Snow, an orthopedic surgeon at MCM. "Very few places have it."
Snow and MAKOplasty representatives demonstrated the robotic arm's innovative assistance in knee procedures Wednesday in the hospital lobby. Unlike other more invasive surgery, MAKOplasty allows partial knee resurfacing to relieve pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis.
Using a sensor-camera-computer correspondence, all connected to the arm's actions, surgeons can selectively target damaged parts of the knee and repair it while sparing surrounding healthy bone and ligaments. The procedure can often be performed through a four- to six-inch incision over the knee, and through preservation of natural bone and tissue, results in a more natural feeling knee.
"When I'm cutting, I have a regular saw just trying to make cuts, so I make it as precise as I can, but I can't be nearly as precise as a robot can with these computer programs," Snow said while demonstrating. "The placement is much more precise."
Surgeons can also use MAKOplasty's RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System for Total Hip Arthroplasty, a total hip replacement procedure for patients who suffer from degenerative joint disease. Like with the knee procedure, the technology provides surgeons a patient-specific 3-D model to pre-plan the replacement.
A pre-operation computed technology (CT) scan determines the necessary implant's size and shows it on an adjacent computer screen. Green on the image represents the implant, and sensors and cameras connected to the arm's drill force surgeons to drill only in that designated area. The drill won't move outside the green, and it automatically stops if the surgeon cuts a half-millimeter too deep.
"The robot doesn't let you get out of alignment," Snow said. "That's the hard part - I always want to look down, but that's not what you do. It tells you when you've drilled enough."
Mostly small- to medium-sized community hospitals are now using MAKOplasty technology, but some of the 125 stations operate at well-known institutions like New York University (NYU) and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Those stations have completed more than 17,000 procedures since June 30, according to MAKOplasty officials.
MCM has done three in the past two weeks. It hasn't yet used the robotic arm for hip replacement, but Snow said the hospital averages more than 200 such procedures a year.
"We are a Joint Commission-certified hospital in terms of total knee and total hip replacement, so we have an investment in orthopedics and an investment in joint replacements," said Sally Huggins, MCM marketing director. "It just makes sense to get the most modern technology in place for our surgeons to provide a better benefit and outcome to our patients."
One beneficiary, a man who last week got partial replacements in both knees, was on hand early Wednesday to tout his new robotic friend. He was comfortably walking and "marketing" for the new technology, Snow said.
Next on MCM surgeons' wish list is the da Vinci Surgical System, another less-invasive robotic technology, used to treat abdominal-related issues like hernias and kidney, throat and colon disorders.
For now, though, they're eager to introduce their newest, robotic assistant.
"We're excited about it and doctors are excited about it," Huggins said. "It adds to the complete resources we have...and just continues to add to our depth of services."
The hospital is offering free seminars over coming months on robotic surgical options for the hip and knee. Seven seminars will be held from October through December in Classrooms 3 and 4 at the hospital, located at 4500 Medical Center Drive in McKinney. For times, dates and reservations, call 1-855-296-6265.
The hospital last week launched use of the $1.2 million robotic technology that enables surgeons to perform hip and knee replacements with unprecedented precision.
"It's new in general and very new to the area," said Dr. Brian Snow, an orthopedic surgeon at MCM. "Very few places have it."
Snow and MAKOplasty representatives demonstrated the robotic arm's innovative assistance in knee procedures Wednesday in the hospital lobby. Unlike other more invasive surgery, MAKOplasty allows partial knee resurfacing to relieve pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis.
Using a sensor-camera-computer correspondence, all connected to the arm's actions, surgeons can selectively target damaged parts of the knee and repair it while sparing surrounding healthy bone and ligaments. The procedure can often be performed through a four- to six-inch incision over the knee, and through preservation of natural bone and tissue, results in a more natural feeling knee.
"When I'm cutting, I have a regular saw just trying to make cuts, so I make it as precise as I can, but I can't be nearly as precise as a robot can with these computer programs," Snow said while demonstrating. "The placement is much more precise."
Surgeons can also use MAKOplasty's RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System for Total Hip Arthroplasty, a total hip replacement procedure for patients who suffer from degenerative joint disease. Like with the knee procedure, the technology provides surgeons a patient-specific 3-D model to pre-plan the replacement.
A pre-operation computed technology (CT) scan determines the necessary implant's size and shows it on an adjacent computer screen. Green on the image represents the implant, and sensors and cameras connected to the arm's drill force surgeons to drill only in that designated area. The drill won't move outside the green, and it automatically stops if the surgeon cuts a half-millimeter too deep.
"The robot doesn't let you get out of alignment," Snow said. "That's the hard part - I always want to look down, but that's not what you do. It tells you when you've drilled enough."
Mostly small- to medium-sized community hospitals are now using MAKOplasty technology, but some of the 125 stations operate at well-known institutions like New York University (NYU) and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Those stations have completed more than 17,000 procedures since June 30, according to MAKOplasty officials.
MCM has done three in the past two weeks. It hasn't yet used the robotic arm for hip replacement, but Snow said the hospital averages more than 200 such procedures a year.
"We are a Joint Commission-certified hospital in terms of total knee and total hip replacement, so we have an investment in orthopedics and an investment in joint replacements," said Sally Huggins, MCM marketing director. "It just makes sense to get the most modern technology in place for our surgeons to provide a better benefit and outcome to our patients."
One beneficiary, a man who last week got partial replacements in both knees, was on hand early Wednesday to tout his new robotic friend. He was comfortably walking and "marketing" for the new technology, Snow said.
Next on MCM surgeons' wish list is the da Vinci Surgical System, another less-invasive robotic technology, used to treat abdominal-related issues like hernias and kidney, throat and colon disorders.
For now, though, they're eager to introduce their newest, robotic assistant.
"We're excited about it and doctors are excited about it," Huggins said. "It adds to the complete resources we have...and just continues to add to our depth of services."
The hospital is offering free seminars over coming months on robotic surgical options for the hip and knee. Seven seminars will be held from October through December in Classrooms 3 and 4 at the hospital, located at 4500 Medical Center Drive in McKinney. For times, dates and reservations, call 1-855-296-6265.
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