A 79-year-old woman who suffered debilitating knee pain for 15 years is back on her feet after undergoing life-changing robotic knee replacement surgery at Mater Private Hospital Redlands.
Wellington Point’s Shirley Teua was the first person to have a knee replaced using the hospital’s new ROSA Robot (Robotic Surgical Assistant).
For the past 15 years Ms Teua endured severe knee pain after tearing her meniscus which left her in constant discomfort and unable to stand.
Mater Private Hospital Redland orthopaedic surgeon Dr David Ramsay performed the surgery and said the hospital was the first in the area to offer the cutting-edge robotic technology.
He said the robot helped surgeons plan and perform personalised and highly precise cuts to bone, ensuring implants could be better fitted according to a patient’s individual anatomy.
Dr Ramsay said the technique achieved faster recovery times, less pain and a more “natural” feel in the knee join.
“The robot is an assistive technology for patients, usually in their 50s to 70s, requiring knee replacement surgery,” he said.
“The surgeon still does the procedure, but it allows us to do much more controlled and subtle balancing of the ligaments and tendons around the knee during the surgery than what the previous system could do.”
Ms Teua said since her surgery in May, she had recovered well and was now able to drive her car, use her sewing machine and walk around the supermarket unaided.
“This surgery has been life-changing and I am in absolutely no more pain,” she said.
Dr Ramsay said it was exciting to have the new technology at Mater Private Hospital Redland.
“With ROSA’s assistance, surgeons can more accurately plan pathways for patients who present with unusual cases and those with higher risk or more difficult surgeries,” Dr Ramsey said.
