Computer Assisted Surgery (or Robotic Surgery) for Hips and Knees in Minnesota

Recent innovations in medical technology afford for orthopedic surgeons to have more control and precision in the operating than ever before. For joint replacement procedures the robotic assisted surgery technique improves outcome by giving the surgeon a much greater field of vision as well as feedback on any movement from the instruments.

Joint Replacement: Hip Replacement & Hip Resurfacing

Joint replacement is indicated when individuals experience musculoskeletal pain or trauma that non-operative surgical procedures cannot alleviate. These non-operative treatments include corticosteroid injections and pain management (physical therapy and rehabilitation).

Computer Assisted Navigation by Stryker

Stryker Orthopedics provides the software Dr. Hartman uses for Computer Assisted Navigation for joint replacement procedures. Stryker Navigation allows the surgeon to track, analyze, and monitor instrumentation while performing the joint replacement or resurfacing procedure to enhance the overall outcome of the procedure. The Computer Assisted Navigation software simplifies surgery for the doctor and improves the likelihood of positive outcome

Robotic Surgery enables surgeons to map out the center of the hip or knee using devices that send impulses to a GPS satellite in the operating room. That data is transferred to a laptop computer, and visually shows the joint surface and center of the joint, allowing surgeons to manipulate the cutting blocks used for hip and knee replacement to within plus or minus half a degree. In hip replacements, surgeons can adjust leg lengths to within a millimeter. Without this technology, judging leg length is considered one of the most difficult parts of doing a hip replacement.

Robotic Surgery & Minimally Invasive Surgery

Because computer assisted navigation contributes to a more accurate surgical procedure, surgeons are more likely to use minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Benefits

Minimally Invasive Surgery, in tandem with Robotic Surgery, has its own benefits. These innovative procedures afford for better results in the short-term as well as in the long-term, and give the patient a greater chance of restarting their active lifestyle sooner than with traditional joint replacement.

• Smaller incision means less exposure of the bone and less blood loss
• Reduced post-operative downtime
• Faster recovery time, typically implying shorter stay in the hospital
• Less scarring left on the operative area