Our Robotic Technology

Our Orthopaedic department has access to the latest technologies throughout all areas of the specialty.

This includes the use of robots, patient specific instrumentation, navigated surgery and constant improvements in equipmentand techniques.

One area of interest is the increasing use of robots in orthopaedics. Robots are accurate and useful tools which assist our surgeons in performing complex procedures with increased accuracy and control.

At Joondalup, the MAKO robot has been used since 2015/16 and is available to public and private patients alike. The MAKO is usually used in the insertion of some partial and total knee replacements as well as total hip replacements.

The robot surgery is based on a high resolution 3D imaging, where a computer correlates what the surgeon is seeing and feeling in real time to a pre-operative digital plan based on a 3D Computerised Tomography (CT) scan of the patient. Then with robotic precision, the surgeon executes that plan using the robotic arm's 6mm high speed burr.

Your surgeon will advise you on whether or not robotic surgery is the right option for you.

How does it work?

Stryker’s MAKO system enables the surgeon to complete a patient specific pre-surgical plan, assessing bone preparation areas and customised implant positioning using a CT scan of the patient’s own knee. During the procedure, the system creates a three-dimensional, virtual view of the patient’s bone surface and correlates the image to the pre-programmed surgical plan. As the surgeon uses the robotic arm, its tactile, auditory and visual feedback limits the bone preparation to the diseased areas and provides for real time adjustments and more optimal implant positioning and placement for each individual patient.

What does it mean for you?

According to Stryker, the robotic arm assisted partial knee surgery could potentially result in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional total knee replacement surgery, as well as a more natural feeling knee following surgery.

Which patients are suitable?

Typical patients suitable for robotic-arm assisted partial knee surgery share the following characteristics:

• Knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee, under the kneecap or isolated to the outer knee
• Start up knee pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
• Failure to respond to non-surgical treatments, injections or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication