Osteoarthritis of the hip is a condition where the cartilage lining of the joint wears out and leads to pain and loss of function. We all want to stay active for as long as possible in life and hip replacement remains the only way to deal with badly worn out hips and is a life transforming procedure.
We have a number of well performing implants available and it is becoming increasingly apparent that putting the parts in accurately improves results. Accurate implantation is difficult to reproduce reliably with conventional techniques, even for highly experienced surgeons. The emergence of robotic assisted orthopaedic technology is designed to support surgeons in producing optimal results for each individual patient.
Mr Simon Bridle is delighted to be one of the first hip surgeons in the UK to employ Stryker’s Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery in hip replacement procedures and has the Mako robot available for his cases at Parkside and BUPA Cromwell Hospital.
What happens during hip replacement surgery?
During a hip replacement procedure, Mr Simon Bridle removes damaged cartilage and bone, replacing them with synthetic implant materials which are designed to replicate a moving hip joint. The top of the thighbone, known as the femoral head, is removed and replaced with a stainless-steel stem down the thigh bone, with a ceramic ball. A metal cup, which bone grows into, is lined with durable polyethylene and this takes the place of the hip socket. This type of hip replacement has a good chance of lasting more than 20 years, even in younger, active patients.
What happens during a Stryker Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Hip Replacement?
Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery does not take the place of the surgeon, but instead allows them to offer a more bespoke surgical procedure. Each procedure can be meticulously planned and a 3D model based on the patient’s specific diagnosis and anatomy is produced prior to surgery.
First, a CT scan is taken of the patient’s joint, which generates a 3D model of your unique anatomy. This is then loaded into the Mako software and a preoperative plan is produced, focusing on the implant’s position and choosing the ideal sized implant to reproduce the patient’s own anatomy.
Adjustments can be made by the surgeon if required, but having a pre-defined area with clear boundaries means positioning of the hip implant is far more accurate and reliable, giving the best chance of achieving a good result. There is good evidence that Mako assisted surgery achieves far more accurate component position and growing evidence that this leads to patients having a better functional result.
Mr Bridle has now performed in excess of 100 Mako assisted hip cases, with excellent results, so he is now highly experienced in this technique. Future developments in the technology will allow even more patient specific implantation and further improve results.
For more information, read our blog on Robotic Hip Surgery or call us on 020 8947 9524 to arrange a consultation.
