Hunjan Hospital launches Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Technology for knee replacement in Ludhiana

Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System enables surgeons to deliver more predictable surgical outcomes with increased accuracy

Ludhiana reached an important milestone in knee replacement as it became the first city in Northern India to have the world’s most widely adopted US FDA approved Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Technology. The first Mako System in Northern India has been installed at Hunjan Hospital, said a press release issued jointly by Stryker India and Hunjan Hospital, Ludhiana.

The launch reportedly comes as an important milestone for Hunjan Hospital and Stryker, in their endeavour to bring the most advanced technology and treatment for patients suffering from knee joint disorders. Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System enables surgeons to deliver more predictable surgical outcomes with increased accuracy.

Congratulating Hunjan Hospital on this important milestone, Meenakshi Nevatia, VP and MD, Stryker India, said, “We are very happy to partner with Hunjan Hospital and it is indeed a proud moment for Stryker. Our common vision of bringing newer innovations to improve patient outcomes and making healthcare better makes our partnership with the hospital very special. We are truly excited about the potential impact on serving patients needing knee replacement across Northern India.”

Dr. BS Hunjan, Director and Joint Replacement Surgeon at Hunjan Hospital, while talking about the difference between conventional and Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery during the press conference held in Ludhiana, explained that one of the challenges with traditional surgery is that surgical accuracy depends on the surgeon’s experience and technique. Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System allows surgeons to make precise bone cuts on the diseased joint, every single time. “First 8 patients that we operated on have shown encouraging results. With Mako, we have been able to know more about our patients than ever before, and we are able to cut less. For some patients, this can mean less soft tissue damage and for others greater bone preservation.”

Dr. Jaiveer Hunjan, Consultant Orthopaedics at Hunjan Hospital further added, “While conventional knee replacement surgeries have been improving the life of patients effectively over the last three decades, the Mako System will enhance our accuracy significantly. As suggested by the literature and our experience with initial surgeries, we have seen tremendous patient benefits such as precise planning and bone cuts, more bone and soft tissue preservation, less post-op pain, faster recovery, quicker discharge and less blood loss.”

Speaking on the technology, Dr. BS Hunjan said, “This technology has the potential to transform the way knee replacement surgeries are performed. I am sure a day will come when this technology will be a Standard of Care in every operating room. We are very proud to bring world-class care to the doorstep of patients in Punjab.”

Each patient’s bone anatomy is different, and arthritis further tends to alter the diseased joint. In case of a knee or hip surgery, Mako System’s software helps create a 3D model of the diseased joint based on the patient’s CT scan. As per the release, the software then allows creating a personalised virtual surgical plan for each patient, based on their specific disease condition. This planning, done even before entering the operation theatre, helps in deciding the most accurate bone cuts and alignment of implants.

The technology allows the surgeon to modify the plan during the surgery, if required. And once the plan is locked, the Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System assists the surgeon in executing the bone cuts in the operation theatre. The unique haptic technology ensures that the surgeon remains within the virtual boundaries created. Since the robotic arm cannot be physically moved outside the virtual boundary, it enables the preservation of soft tissue. This allows most accurate bone cuts, positioning of implants and protecting any injury to soft tissue.

The largest global install base of more than 1,000 Mako Systems (and counting), more than 350,000 Mako procedures and more than 145 publications in published, peer reviewed studies establish the clinical prowess of Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Technology.