Freeman Health System introduces robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery
JOPLIN, Mo. — It’s knee replacement surgery – a robotic assisted procedure that eliminates the need for a CT scan and speeds us the recovery process.
Freeman Health System is the sole provider in the area.
“The precision of the surgery really is allowing people to get better range of motion sooner. To have a little less pain. Maybe a little less narcotic use and earlier discharged from the hospital,” said Dr. Derek Miller, orthopedic surgeon.
It’s a knee replacement for patients with osteoarthritis or a deformity of the knee.
“We do have to prepare the ends of the bone to fit the new implant on and the robotic assisted handpiece allows us to prepare the bone in a way with precision that are the 10th of a millimeter throughout that we just haven’t had before.”
Although other knee replacement procedures were computer assisted – this process takes it a step further.
“Before on a computer assisted surgery we would use a bone saw to resect the bone and the computer would tell us where to remove the bone and make the bone cuts where now the robotic handpiece actually mills the bone away and burns the bone away itself with a retractable handpiece. So the precision is there,” said Dr. Miller.
And it also eliminates the need for imaging.
“Meaning we don’t have to pre load a CT scan or MRI or x-ray into the computer. Most other systems require a long leg CT for the cat scan runs from your hip all the way through your ankle, which has a tremendous amount of radiation and quite honestly a tremendous amount of expense.”
Patients eligible for the procedure start with a preoperative education class.
“Very important that the patient knows as much as they can about really what they’re getting into and to expect before, during and after surgery with a knee replacement.”
