Following a successful market-led proposal by local manufacturer, Stryker Australia, patients at Fremantle Hospital in WA will benefit from the Mako SmartRobotics system, which assists surgeons to plan and more accurately perform bone cuts and optimise functional outcomes in joint replacement surgeries.
Making itself at home in one of the newly refurbished theatres, the Mako SmartRobotics system uses a CT scan to create a 3D image of the patient’s unique anatomy. This can be manipulated to assist the surgeon to plan the surgery.
“Fremantle Hospital is the first public hospital to provide this outstanding technology, offering robotic assisted joint replacement to public patients,” WA Health minister Roger Cook said.
“This advanced robotic system makes Fremantle Hospital a hub for elective surgery. This is an excellent example of the McGowan government’s Market-led Proposals Policy benefitting the Western Australian community as intended.”
In performing the surgery, the robot guides the surgeon as they perform the cuts with enhanced accuracy. It includes haptic technology which guides the surgeon and limits the possibility of damaging other structures during surgery.
Through a multi-step, inter-agency evaluation process, the proposal was assessed as presenting a good opportunity to deliver many benefits to the Western Australian health system and community.
The Mako SmartRobotics system is demonstrated to support greater consistency in joint replacement procedures, with better short-term outcomes for total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement patients and a likelihood of additional long-term benefits.
The robotic technology has been purchased through a five-year agreement.