In Nizhny Novgorod, robotic surgeons were used for joint replacement for the first time
Quick Look
- In Nizhny Novgorod, for the first time, knee and hip replacement surgeries were performed using the Mako robotic system.
- Surgeons note that the robot serves only as a tool, and all decisions are made by the doctor.
- The operations are carried out free of charge using government funding.
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Why It Matters
In Nizhny Novgorod, robotic surgeons were used for joint replacement for the first time. This was reported by Nizhegorodskaya Pravda with reference to the press service of the Volga Research Medical University (PIMU).
In Nizhny Novgorod, robotic surgeons were used for joint replacement for the first time. This was reported by Nizhegorodskaya Pravda with reference to the press service of the Volga Research Medical University (PIMU).
The first operations involving robots, whose work is based on the Mako system, were knee and hip replacements. At the same time, the deputy chief physician of the University Clinic of PIMU for Traumatology and Orthopedics, Candidate of Medical Sciences Vyacheslav Mitrofanov clarified that the machines in this case do not completely replace a living surgeon. According to him, all decisions are made by the doctor, and the robot serves only as a tool. “The surgeon selects the position of the endoprosthesis components, determines the volume of intervention, works with soft tissues, installs the endoprosthesis and is fully responsible for the course of the operation,” he explained.
So, at the beginning of the work, a patient was examined and a three-dimensional model of his joint was created. At this stage, the doctor determines the optimal position of the future endoprosthesis.
After the examination, he begins the main procedure. During this process, the robotic system creates virtual boundaries for the surgeon within which to operate. During the intervention, it is necessary to correctly install the endoprosthesis, restore the axis of the limb, and also monitor the condition of the ligaments and balance of the joint. Mitrofanov noted that the surgeon can do all this on his own, but the robot will help him control the operation.
It is noted that surgical interventions with robots are carried out free of charge through government funding under the state guarantee program.
Open Questions
- How many operations have already been performed using robots?
- What are the long-term results of such surgeries compared to traditional methods?
- Are there plans to expand the use of robotic systems to other types of operations?
