A radical new approach to knee surgery is now available at a private hospital in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, UK.
Computer-assisted knee surgery uses three-dimensional imaging and real time monitoring in the planning and execution of surgical procedures in trauma and orthopaedics.
Orthopaedic surgeon at Spire Little Ashton Hospital, Mr Ashvin Pimpalnerkar, who is leading the development of the new service, said: “Computer-aided surgery has distinct advantages over conventional techniques, providing the surgeon with greater visualisation, improved accuracy and precision of surgical procedures and for the patient, reduced post operative pain and hospital stay.”
The technique is currently being used for total knee replacement, ligament reconstruction, cartilage injury mapping and grafting.
Fran Bowdler, aged 67, from Little Aston had a total left knee replacement on 29 December 2007 at the hospital, under the care of Mr Pimpalnerkar using the computer-assisted technique. She had a right knee replacement in May 2007, using the conventional technique but says the new computer-aided surgery was much better.
“The conventional approach to total knee replacement left my leg rather bruised, very painful and recovery did take a while. I needed a lot of rest following the operation and several sessions of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to regain strength.
“Computer-assisted surgery was quite the opposite, it was a matter of days after the operation that I could bend my knee, I had no pain, no bruising and minimum swelling. I returned home after just three days in hospital,” she said.
Spire Little Ashton Hospital
