Orthopedic Surgeon Presents Mock Partial-Knee Replacement Using Surgical Robot

Students from the Camas-based robotics team saw a demonstration of surgical robot at the Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center. Orthopedic surgeon Todd Borus conducted a mock demonstration of partial-knee replacement using MAKOplasty, a surgical robot.

The robot allows surgeons to eliminate only certain damaged bone parts. This technique helps doctors to conduct partial replacement and not replace the entire joint.

Software incorporated in MAKOplasty can generate three dimensional models of the patient’s knee. The three dimensional data obtained acts as a map to guide surgeons.

Borus explained the working of the surgical robot to students. Students got an opportunity to handle the robot. They put on safety glasses, went to the operating table and one by one carved the bone out of the artificial knee. Borus stated that the use of robots will lead to major enhancements in the medical field. Surgeons gain the accuracy to remove only sections of the joint with the help of the robot. The surgery performed using MAKOplasty is less invasive than full-knee replacement surgeries and reduces the patient’s recovery period, Borus said.