The Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus is the first hospital
in the Southeast Georgia region to offer Mako™ Robotic-Arm Assisted
Surgery, the latest innovation in total hip replacement surgery. Denny
A. Carter, M.D. became the first
orthopaedic
surgeon on the Brunswick Campus to use the highly advanced, surgeon-controlled
robotic arm system when performing a total hip replacement in October 2015.
“Getting implants positioned correctly is an important aspect in
improving surgical outcomes and the lifespan of the implants used for
hip replacement,” explains Carter, board-certified
orthopaedic
surgeon, Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery, a strategic
affiliate of the Health System. “Accurate placement and alignment
of hip implants using traditional approaches can be challenging. But by
using Mako’s innovative software and robotic-arm technology, we
can achieve previously unmatched levels of personalization and reproducible
precision in hip implant position and alignment to fit the patient’s
unique anatomy.”
A Mako procedure starts with a pre-operative CAT scan of the patient’s
hip. From the scan, a 3-D virtual model of the patient’s unique
hip anatomy is generated. This model is loaded into the Mako system software
and used to create a personalized surgical plan. During surgery, the highly
advanced, physician-controlled robotic arm provides real-time visualization
and measurements, enabling surgeons to make adjustments as needed and
to control implant placement, optimizing its position and alignment.
“While using Mako for
total
hip replacement makes it easier for physicians to conduct the surgery,
to us, it’s all about the patient benefits,” says Beau Sasser,
M.D., board-certified
orthopaedic
surgeon, Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery, and also accredited
to perform Mako hip replacement procedures. “This procedure does
more than just restore mobility and quality of life for our patients,
it changes their life.”
Less pain, reduced risks, improved surgical outcomes, enhanced gait, consistency
in leg length and increased longevity of the implant are among the potential
benefits patients suffering from
debilitating
degenerative joint disease can expect as compared to traditional hip replacement.
“Using Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery for total hip replacement
further validates the Health System's commitment to providing cutting-edge
technology to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients,” adds Carter.
In 2008, Carter and Sasser were among the first physicians in the country
to conduct partial knee resurfacing procedures using Mako robotic-arm
technology. Since then, they have successfully completed hundreds of Mako
partial knee replacements.
To find out if Mako Total Hip Replacement is right for you, or for more
information, call 1-855-ASK-SGHS (1-855-275-7447) or visit
sghs.org/services/robotic-surgery.