HEALTH SPECIAL
Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital is the first and only hospital in East Anglia to offer Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery for knee and hip replacements. Here, its elite team of Cambridge surgeons discuss their work with this innovative technology
ecent investment in highly advanced technology has transformed the way joint-
implant, where I’m expecting to implant it and how I’m going to implant it.” Also operating at Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital, one of the few hospitals to provide a personalised surgical plan for full hip, knee and partial knee joint replacements, Mr Chris Gooding says: “The Mako has added a significant amount to navigation: it is accurate, it’s validated. There’ve been recent studies, two papers in the last six months, showing it delivers; it’s accurate in the orientation of the implants and for leg lengths, which is often the patient’s concern. It’s accurate within one to two millimetres and, within the orientation of the cup, within one to two degrees.” Remarking on how the innovative new surgery aims to provide improved recovery time, reduced pain and improved activity levels, Mr Joel Melton says: “Why are these patients seeing a more rapid recovery? It’s because of improved accuracy of implantation, better ligament balancing around the joint, and that also translates to improved functional performance in the future and function that will last for longer.” Looking at improving patient outcomes, Mr Andrew Carrothers
replacement procedures are performed at Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital. Utilising Mako’s groundbreaking technology are a prominent group of orthopaedic surgeons known as SMART (specialist Mako-assisted robotic team), based at the award-winning hospital, who’ve already undertaken 100 successful operations. “The benefits start at the planning stage – prior planning and preparation is always really important in any operation,” says SMART member Mr Stephen McDonnell. “The CT scan gives the surgeon additional information, which they may not have appreciated on just a plain X-ray. I see the Mako a bit like a GPS in theatre, which gives us constant feedback at every turn, making sure we know exactly where things are and that we get precision with the operation.” The state-of-the-art system works alongside the expert surgeons, from pre-surgery planning stages through to assisting in the surgery itself to improve the accuracy and precision of the procedure. “What Mako allows us to do, from pre-operative planning and the use of the robot, is to really ensure we get that implant for the replacement in the best possible position,” adds Mr Graham Keene, another member of the team. In providing patients who require orthopaedic surgery with a full robotic arm-assisted procedure package for hips and knees, Mr Joel Melton highlights that “there are elements of robotic surgery that allow me to plan and prepare in a way I wouldn’t be able to do with conventional techniques”. He continues: “For example, with the Mako workflow process and the pre-operative CT scan, I can size and position my implant before the operation has even begun, so I can take those elements out of the surgery and have a much better understanding before surgery of what I’m expecting to
I see the Mako a bit like a GPS in theatre, which gives us constant feedback at every turn, making sure we know exactly where things are and that we get precision with the operation"
concludes: “In providing real-time feedback throughout the surgery, a CT scan of the patient allows a 3D model to be replicated, so we know exactly what their anatomy looks like. Robotic assisted surgery is a real advance in orthopaedic hip and knee surgery and I think it will come into the trauma field for the future.”
MEET THE SMART TEAM Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital’s elite group of surgeons, known as SMART (specialist Mako-assisted robotic team), are specialised in utilising the Mako robot to create specific 3D plans personalised for their patients, enabling joint replacement procedures with even greater surgical precision. Pictured (left to right): Mr Andrew Carrothers, Mr Graham Keene, Mr Stephen McDonnell, Mr Chris Gooding and Mr Joel Melton
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