Saturday 3 July 2021 • Promotional Content The robots are coming


Many hospitals are now offering robotic surgery for key operations — including knee replacements. So what exactly is involved? Consultant surgeon Mr Chris Bailey, of Chris Bailey Orthopaedics in Winchester, explains


Specialist clinics Healthcare Innovations 35


think you’re about to expound on your passion for science fi ction. But, actually, the concept of robot-as- sisted surgery is very much a medical reality — in fact, it’s now one of the fastest-growing areas in modern orthopaedics. T e Nuffi eld Health Wessex Hospital in Hampshire, one of 31 hospitals run by healthcare charity Nuffi eld Health, launched its Robotic Orthopaedic Centre in 2019, and has since carried out more than 180 procedures there using its advanced Mako robotic system.


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What exactly is robotic surgery? Simply put, robotic surgery of this kind uses a computer-powered arm, equipped with a specialised cutting tool, to assist surgeons during opera- tions. Despite what you might think, it doesn’t carry out the procedure itself. It simply guides the surgeon as they make their incisions. T e doctor stays in control.


Who is it for? Robotic surgery has many diff erent uses, but one of the most popular applications is for knee joint replace- ment. T is is an operation for people who have lost the protective carti- lage covering in their joints, usually through arthritis, so that they’re expe- riencing severe, ongoing pain that’s interfering with daily


life. During


the procedure, the surgeon removes damaged bone and cartilage from the joint and replaces it with a new, artifi - cial implant. If your doctor has recom- mended you for a knee replacement, you could choose to have this opera- tion with the Mako robotic system.


So how does the robotic procedure work? It starts by taking a multi-angle CT scan of your leg a week or two before surgery. T is enables us to create a virtual model of your knee. T is 3D model is then loaded into a computer to build a personal plan for your oper- ation, which covers everything from the implant size to the angles for the cuts. In theatre, the surgeon places refl ective markers around the knee to synchronise it with the computer. T ey then use the robotic arm to remove defective material from


rop the words ‘robotic oper- ation’ into casual conversa- tion and most people will


Robotic surgery of this kind uses a computer-powered arm, equipped with a specialised cutting tool, to assist surgeons during operations


the joint, before carefully inserting the implant. T e robot enables the surgeon to realign the leg and opti- mise the balance of the new knee joint.


What are the benefi ts of a robot- assisted procedure? Knee replacement is a common oper- ation that’s been very successful over the decades — more than 100,000 are carried out in the UK every year and many patients experience a signifi - cant reduction in pain and a return to good function. To get the best chance of a good long-term result, precision is important. T is is where the Mako can be extremely helpful. Because the arm operates within a fraction of a milli- metre, it helps surgeons to preserve as much healthy bone and tissue in the joint as possible. Early studies have found that robot-assisted surgery can help to preserve soft tissues and improve the accuracy of implant placement. T ere’s also evidence that it can result in reduced time in hospital, less pain after the operation and faster recovery times. If you’d like to know more about the procedure and whether it might be right for you, the team would be really glad to meet you and talk through the possibilities. From diagnostics, to treatment and recovery, they can help.


MEET THE EXPERT


T is is for people who have lost the protective cartilage covering in their joints, usually through arthritis


Chris Bailey is an orthopaedic consultant and surgeon based in Winchester, Hampshire. Trained in the UK and Australia, he specialises in partial and total knee replacement. Mr Bailey works both privately and for the NHS. This year, he received a Certifi cate of Excellence for delivering outstanding care from the independent review site IWantGreatCare, where he has over 300 fi ve-star patient reviews.


T: 023 8025 8423 E: lyn.green@nuffi eldhealth.com chrisbaileyorthopaedics.com


nuffi eldhealth.com/hospitals/ wessex


iwantgreatcare.org/doctors/ mr-christopher-bailey-1


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