Joint replacement surgery is one of the most common operations performed by the NHS. The aim of the trial is to determine whether using robots results in better outcomes for the joint replacement patients.
In robotic assisted hip and knee replacement surgery, a robotic arm helps preparing the bone and inserting the components to a pre-programmed three-dimensional plan. Using a robot to perform the surgery is thought to enable more precise, consistent surgical techniques, which may help to reduce variation and potentially prevent poor outcomes and complications that can require additional surgery.
Professor Peter Cnudde, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “Robot-assisted surgery is used with great success in many procedures and can bring numerous advantages when compared to standard surgery. It is a big achievement for the team to be at the forefront of a world-leading multi-centre study like this, and we’re really pleased to be able to get the clinical trial started.
“Adding robot-assisted surgery to the surgical provision available at Hywel Dda UHB will, I believe, be of real benefit to our patients, and I look forward to leading this important piece of work.”
Professor Chris Hopkins, Head of Innovation & the TriTech Institute at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We are pleased that our surgeons at Hywel Dda UHB are playing a leading role in this clinical trial. We hope that the programme will lead to improved patient outcomes and go some way in tackling pressures in our system and our planned care waiting lists. The research findings will undoubtedly help orthopaedic surgeons across our health board and across the world understand the most effective tools and technology for performing hip & knee replacement surgery and deliver excellent patient care.”
In addition to recording clinical & patient outcomes, the study will also include an in-depth health economic analysis to inform the NHS if this element of robot-assisted technology should be widely adopted.