St. Joseph Now Offering Robotic-Arm Assisted Joint Replacement Procedures with Stryker's Mako System

ORANGE, Calif. - Nov. 30, 2018 - PRLog -- St. Joseph Hospital is one of the first hospitals in Orange County to offer robotic-arm assisted total knee, partial knee and total hip replacements with Stryker's Mako System. This highly advanced robotic technology transforms the way joint replacement surgery is performed, enabling surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy.

"With Mako, we can provide each patient with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy," said Ayaz Biviji, MD, an orthopedic surgeon on staff at St. Joseph Hospital. "Using a virtual 3D model, Mako allows surgeons to create each patient's surgical plan pre-operatively before entering the operating room. During surgery, we can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic-arm to execute that plan. It's exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology across the joint replacement service line to perform total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements."

The demand for joint replacements is expected to rise in the next decade. Total knee replacements in the United States are estimated to increase by 673 percent by 2030, while primary total hip replacements are estimated to increase by 174 percent. At St. Joseph Hospital, orthopedic surgeons perform over 800 joint replacements each year.

St. Joseph Hospital first launched the Mako Total Hip and Partial Knee Systems in 2012, and in September of this year, acquired the Total Knee replacement application. The first case successfully completed in early October.

"We are proud to be one of the first hospitals in Orange County to offer this highly advanced robotic technology for those looking to improve their quality of life," says Jeremy S. Zoch, PhD, MHA, FACHE, chief executive of St. Joseph Hospital. "The addition of the Mako total knee replacement application to our already robust orthopedic service line further demonstrates our commitment to provide our community with outstanding healthcare."

The Mako Total Knee application is a knee replacement treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan and identify the implant size, orientation and alignment based on each patient's unique anatomy. The Mako System also enables surgeons to virtually modify the surgical plan intra-operatively and assists the surgeon in executing bone resections.

Dr. Duke Hasson, a St. Joseph Hospital orthopedic surgeon who has used the new Mako robotic technology to perform total knee replacement procedures at the hospital, is excited to provide this option to his patients.
"I find a lot of value in being able to offer patients a minimally invasive solution that is customized to their specific anatomy," he says. "The more accurately hip and knee implants are placed in the patient's body, the more successful they will be and the longer they will last."

The Mako Partial Knee application is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. Following the personalized pre-operative plan, the surgeon guides the robotic-arm during bone preparation to execute the pre-determined surgical plan and position the implant. By selectively targeting only the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, surgeons can resurface the diseased portion of the knee, while helping to spare the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding the knee joint. Studies have shown robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement to be two to three times more accurate than manual partial knee replacement procedures.

The Mako Total Hip application is a treatment option for adults who suffer from degenerative joint disease of the hip. During surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic-arm during bone preparation to prepare the hip socket and position the implant according to the pre-determined surgical plan. In cadaveric studies, Mako total hip replacement acetabular cup placement has been shown to be four times more accurate and reproducible than manual total hip replacement procedures.

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About St. Joseph Hospital:
St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California is a nationally recognized, 463-bed, not-for-profit Catholic hospital that was founded in 1929 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission and designated as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence, St. Joseph Hospital's reputation for clinical excellence and compassionate, family-centered care draws patients from all over the United States. This is one reason why St. Joseph Hospital was named one of the top hospitals in the Los Angeles/Orange County area by U.S. News & World Report for four years in a row. With a highly recognized medical staff of over 1,000 physicians and more than 3,100 employees, St. Joseph Hospital is home to more than 75 specialty programs, including The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, the Heart and Vascular Center, and a nationally acclaimed orthopedics program that has been ranked among the top 50 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Equally important is St. Joseph Hospital's dedication to caring for the medically underserved through health education programs, a free-standing medical and dental clinic, and mobile health clinics. St. Joseph Hospital depends on philanthropic support from the community to carry out its mission. These efforts are coordinated through the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. St. Joseph Hospital is part of Providence St. Joseph Health, a health system of 119,000 employees serving in 50 hospitals, 829 clinics and a comprehensive range of services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. For more information visit www.sjo.org.