Hospital da Luz Setúbal has performed, last September 16, its first knee prothesis insertion assisted by robotic system. This was the first surgery of the kind performed in a hospital of the Tagus River south bank, and it was conducted by the orthopaedics team under the coordination of Jorge Pon . “Robotic surgery is an innovating technology that has also become an important resource in the area of orthopaedics. This is not a robot operating on its own, but an advanced system allowing the surgeon more precision, better planning and higher control during surgery ”, explains Jorge Pon. This CORI robotic system is portable and comprises a monitor, two TV cameras, sensors capturing 3D images, and a computer. It allows the surgeon to plan a surgery with the maximum level of precision, in compliance with the predefined parameters. The surgical plan is therefore customized based on the digital 3D model of the knee produced by the robot. During surgery, the system guides the surgeon in the execution of the necessary cuts and other procedures, which are performed with much higher precision compared to conventional surgery. The same applies to the positioning and placement of the prosthesis. “The type of anaesthesia and hospital care are similar to a robotic orthopaedic or conventional surgery. Usually, the period of hospitalization is identical, but rehabilitation may be quicker due to the precision of the procedure”, adds Jorge Pon. The first surgery of the kind at Hospital da Luz Setúbal was performed for knee prosthesis placement, but the same robotic system may also be used in partial surgeries of the knee and in hip surgery for prosthesis placement. Hospital da Luz Setúbal thus takes another significant step in the enlargement of differentiated healthcare offered to the population, resorting to innovative technology.
