Handheld robotics to assist in knee replacements at St Vincent’s

ST VINCENT’S Hospital in Lismore has introduced a new robotic surgical system to support orthopaedic surgeon Shane Prodger in performing knee replacements.

The CORI Robotic Surgical System uses handheld, robotics-assisted technology to help pre-plan and carry out each procedure with greater accuracy.

Dr Prodger said St Vincent’s had been proactive in adopting robotics, with all knee replacement surgeons at the hospital using the technology in some form.

“The benefits include helping devise a preoperative plan and making sure it is implemented correctly once we’re doing the surgery,” he said.

“It aims to reduce human error, and it’s great for local people to have access to this type of equipment, which might save them a trip to the Gold Coast or another hospital.

“There is early evidence to suggest it reduces some complications from surgery such as loosening of the implants.

“The one I’m using to assist me has been around for a couple of years, and I became interested in it about nine months ago.

“St Vincent’s were very supportive, and everything moved quickly once I expressed interest in using it.”

Around 70 per cent of knee replacement surgeries in Australia now involve some form of advanced technology.

The earliest knee replacement procedures were performed in 1968 and relied on manual tools to remove damaged bone and position the implant.

Surgical rods were later introduced to improve anatomic alignment between the knee and hip.

In recent years, preoperative scans such as CT and MRI have helped create detailed, computer-generated surgical plans for each patient.

Robotics-assisted surgeries are the latest step, combining traditional methods with modern innovations to improve outcomes and reduce risks.

“The uptake in technology has been significant over the past decade,” Dr Prodger said.

“Our surgeons in Lismore aim to provide a comprehensive service to the community, and they’ve all embraced and are using some form of robotics.”