Robotic-assisted surgery improving orthopaedic outcomes

A growing number of orthopaedic surgery patients at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) are benefitting from state-of-the-art robotic surgical technology with improved outcomes and faster recovery.

In the last nine months, orthopaedic surgeons have performed 379 surgeries using the cutting-edge technology – 40 per cent more than the previous year.

TPCH orthopaedic surgeons use the robotic technology for full and partial knee replacements, facilitating surgeries that are more accurate than manual procedures.

Director Orthopaedic Surgery Dr Simon Perkins said that robotic technology allows for virtual planning before the operation.

“Before surgery, a patient will have a special CT scan to create a 3D model of their joint. This means the optimal implant size, shape, and position can be built prior to surgery,” Dr Perkins said.
“The ability to individualise the surgical procedure reduces the chance for soft tissue damage and the size of the surgical site, helping optimise the outcome and recovery for the patient.

“Many of our patients who undergo knee replacement surgery are over 55 years, and often have anatomy that would mean surgery using older methods of joint replacement would be challenging.

“Our experience at TPCH is that our patients have less pain and a quicker recovery, allowing them to leave hospital sooner and return to their normal daily activities. It means we can offer patients next-generation surgery with excellent outcomes,” he said.

TPCH was the first public hospital in Queensland with the technology. It also performs the most hip and knee replacements out all public hospitals in Queensland, with surgeons having performed over 1,300 robotic-assisted surgeries since 2019.

The technology was funded by The Common Good.