Hurstville Private Hospital is the first hospital in NSW to introduce a new piece of technology, helping surgeons complete total knee replacements.
About a dozen hospitals across Australia are now using the NAVIO surgical system developed in the US. The hand-held, robotic device helps the surgeon complete a total knee replacement while reducing human error.
Surgeon Razvan Stoita used the device for the first time last week at Hurstville Private operating on patients Jill Malone, Grahame Barclay and Michael Wrightson.
Other local hospitals have similar technology to assist with knee surgery, such as the $1 million Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology at St George Private. That piece of technology is fully robotic and will be upgraded soon to complete total knee replacements. However, it is currently only capable of completing partial knee replacements.
Dr Stoita said it was exciting to have the new NAVIO surgical system in use at Hurstville Private.
“It’s an ongoing improvement in our surgical techniques and is different to what we have done before.”
Total knee replacements are a common surgery generally among older patients. As at the end of June, Sutherland Hospital alone had a waiting list of 191 patients who were waiting for a total knee replacement.
Figures from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry show more than 52,000 total knee replacement operations were performed in Australia in 2016.
Dr Stoita said new technology, like the NAVIO surgical system, allowed surgeons to reconstruct knees to as close as possible to their pre-arthritic state.
In simple terms, he said knee replacement included cutting out diseased bone and cartilage, inserting an implant or prosthesis, and balancing the knee.
He said the new, robotic system decreased human error by guiding the surgeon during the procedure.
“Traditional total knee replacements rely on cutting blocks and using guides to direct a surgical saw to remove the diseased bone and cartilage,” Dr Stoita said.
“The 3D mapping [on the NAVIO device] during the operation eliminates the need for any blocks or pre-surgery CT scans. It provides us with instant information allowing us to place the implant virtually and predict post-operative joint laxity during surgery.
“The computer relays information to the robotic hand piece which establishes spacial boundaries, assisting in removing damaged knee surfaces and balancing the knee joint to position the implant with accuracy and precision.”
