Orthopaedic robotic-assisted surgery now at OPH

In a first for North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS), robotic-assisted surgical system is now being used in performing joint replacements of the hip, knee and shoulder at our Osborne Park Hospital (OPH).

OPH Consultant Surgeon Dr Piet Rogers said the orthopaedic robot provides a way of accurately carrying out an exact plan to execute these replacements in patients who show worn out joints due to arthritis of varying kinds.

"Joint replacements are a common but challenging operation that a lot of orthopaedic surgeons provide for their patients," Dr Rogers said.

The MAKO machine uses a 3D CT image to capture each patient's unique anatomy, which allows for more correct implant positioning when compared to traditional techniques.

It provides the opportunity to assess soft tissue tolerances and adjust the placement of implants to achieve the final position before cuts.

"The robotic systems allow us to accurately carry out a plan that is preoperatively planned and then adjusted to match a patient's specific anatomy during the operation," said Dr Rogers.

The surgery is minimally invasive, requiring smaller incisions which assists with quicker recovery times and better patient outcomes.

"This is another tool we now have in our armamentarium, and we are lucky enough to now have this available to our public patients across the north metro region," Dr Rogers said.

"All members of our team are very excited to bring this technology to our patients, and we can now accurately execute a plan with precision to take a large portion of worries and concerns over accurate surgery execution."

This is the second surgical robot for OPH, which forms part of our focus on providing cutting-edge technology to support the delivery of high-level patient care.