Robotic knee surgery a first for Africa

IN A FIRST for Africa, a full knee-replacement operation has been carried out using the state-of-the-art Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery system.

Netcare said the surgery was performed at its Linksfield Hospital in Johannesburg.

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Chris McCready, who performed the operation, said: “There is no national register for total local knee replacements currently, but with an estimated 8 000 to 10 000 full knee replacements taking place in South Africa each year, this technology could signal a new era in personalised joint replacement.”

He said the system for full knee replacements was already well established in Europe, the US and the UK.

Last year, it was used for more than 250 000 procedures internationally, and could also be used for hip and partial knee replacements.

One of the major advantages of the system is that it draws data from a computed tomography (CT) scan of the knee prior to surgery, which is used to develop a three-dimensional, pre-operative plan unique to each individual.

“The system provides detailed visual, auditory and tactile feedback to the surgeon, which helps to enhance surgical precision in positioning and aligning the implants,” McCready said.

It is controlled by the surgeon at all times and provides an additional safeguard for the patient because it ensures only the specific areas identified in the personalised pre-surgical plan can be operated on. This prevents damage to critical structures within the knee.

“Benefits for patients that have been noted in outcomes recorded internationally include the achievement of a better balanced and more natural-feeling implanted knee, less post-operative pain and quicker recovery time,” said McCready.