Safdarjung Hospital performs first robot-assisted total knee replacement
The Central Institute of Orthopaedics (CIO) at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital has performed its first robot-assisted total knee replacement, marking the introduction of advanced robotic orthopaedic surgery at the central government hospital.
The procedure was performed on August 22 on a 75-year-old economically disadvantaged male beneficiary and was carried out completely free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the hospital said in a statement.
The initiative has been undertaken with the leadership, support and encouragement of Dr Kavita Sharma, Director, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital.
The procedure was performed under the clinical guidance of Dr Sumit Sural, Director, Central Institute of Orthopaedics (CIO), with the surgical team led by Dr Bhagwati Prasad Sharma, Consultant Professor and Head of Unit.
The hospital said the introduction of robotic-assisted surgery would strengthen its capacity to provide technology-enabled orthopaedic care within the public healthcare system.
The newly introduced robotic platform is upgradable and can support a range of procedures, including total knee replacement, partial knee replacement and hip joint replacement.
With future technological and software upgrades, the platform may also support robot-assisted spine surgery, further expanding the scope of advanced surgical services at the institute.
Robot-assisted surgery enables precise pre-operative planning and accurate surgical execution, particularly in implant positioning and alignment, the hospital said.
The availability of the technology at a central government hospital under the Ayushman Bharat framework is expected to expand access to advanced orthopaedic procedures for patients from economically weaker sections.
The successful completion of the first robot-assisted total knee replacement marks an important step towards expanding technology-enabled orthopaedic services at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital and lays the foundation for wider use of robotic-assisted surgical care at the CIO.
