Sydney’s private hospital adopts Stryker robotic technology for advanced surgical precision

MedTech & Diagnostics News: In a move to enhance orthopaedic surgical precision and patient outcomes, Sydney’s Westmead Private Hospital has unveiled its latest addition, the state-of-the-art Mako robotic system. This technology, equipped with a surgeon-controlled robotic arm, is poised to enhance the accuracy and efficacy of partial and total knee and hip replacement surgeries.

Dr Bijoy Thomas, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Westmead Private (part of the Ramsay Health Care netwrok), expressed his enthusiasm for the new technology, stating, “The MAKO Robot can enhance my ability to provide the best care possible as the patient undergoes their knee replacement journey.”

Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has demonstrated remarkable advantages over traditional methods, boasting superior accuracy, fewer alignment anomalies, and enhanced short-term clinical outcomes.

However, as the medical world ushers in this era of robotic surgery, questions regarding cost-effectiveness and the superiority of one system over another remain subjects of research. A review published earlier this year analysed the characteristics and performance of five currently available systems, placing a significant focus on the information and feedback provided to surgeons, the degree of intraoperative adaptability offered, and the system’s capacity to execute surgical plans accurately.

The five systems included the TSolution One by THINK Surgical, offering partial autonomy; MAKO SmartRobotics Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic system by Stryker, a semi-active robotic arm-assisted CAS system; ROSA Knee system by Zimmer-Biomet, another semi-active robotic arm-assisted CAS system; CORI Surgical System by Smith & Nephew, a handheld semi-active CAS system; and OMNIBotics by Corin, Circencester, a cutting jig-based robotic system mounted to the patient’s knee.

The review found no significant clinical superiority among these robotics systems, leaving ample room for further research and innovation in the field.

The financial aspect plays a crucial role in the adoption of robotic systems. Preoperative planning and imaging costs vary among systems, and the price of acquiring a system depends on the manufacturer’s sales model. Among the systems compared, the MAKO system is the most expensive. In contrast, the CORI system, lacking a physical robotic arm, is a more cost-effective option. Both the ROSA and TSolution One systems are also more budget-friendly than the MAKO.

Expanding the list of procedures a robotics system can perform, such as TKA and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), can help justify the overall cost. While some systems like MAKO offer total hip arthroplasty (THA), assessing the cost-effectiveness of the systems remains challenging.

“Because we lack data about revision rate and longevity, the overall cost-effectiveness is almost impossible to calculate at this stage,” the authors wrote.

Dr Thomas further elaborated on the capabilities of the Mako system, highlighting its ability to create a highly accurate 3D model of the patient’s knee, thus facilitating personalised preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance.

He continued, “The robotic arm helps to precisely cut and thereby place the components, leading to better alignment, fit, and placement of the implants. Additionally, the robot has features that are designed to cause less trauma to the surrounding soft tissues compared to traditional surgical techniques. Minimizing soft tissue damage can result in faster recovery times, less pain, and improved postoperative mobility.”

Westmead Private Hospital’s commitment to investing in pioneering surgical technologies has garnered praise from the hospital’s CEO, Mike Flatley.

He affirmed “We’re proud to continue investing in leading surgical technology that’s designed to improve patient experience and outcomes.”

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