Thursday

Jun 18, 2020 at 2:01 AM


FALL RIVER — If robotic-assisted surgery makes you think of characters from 1960s TV cartoons or science fiction movies, think again.

At Saint Anne’s Hospital, robotic-assisted technologies have been helping surgeons for several years to perform a wide range of common procedures more efficiently and more precisely than ever before. Now that elective surgeries are available, too, Saint Anne’s Hospital is safe and ready to meet your health care needs.

Here’s a look at how robotic-assisted surgery may help you.

Understanding robotic-assisted surgery

A common misconception is that the “robot” is performing the surgery. In fact, in robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon controls the movement of robotic instruments at all times.

The concept is simple: The robot guides surgeons' movements more precisely than the human hand, reducing the surgery’s impact on healthy tissue and decreasing the risk of potential human errors. This technology makes surgery safer and quicker. It also helps patients recover more quickly and experience improved outcomes.

Saint Anne’s Hospital offers one of the area’s most comprehensive array of robotic-assisted procedures by experienced surgeons. Here’s a snapshot of what’s available at Saint Anne’s:

Mako for joint replacement surgery

According to the National Institutes for Health and the Center for Disease Control, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the United States. Knee OA occurs in 10% of men and in 13% of women, age 60 years or older. Interestingly, women are more prone to knee OA due partly to differences in knee anatomy, previous knee injury, and hormonal influences.1

For patients of all ages with knee or hip osteoarthritis, Saint Anne’s Hospital has led the way in the region by providing robotic-assisted knee and hip replacement. In 2011, Saint Anne’s became the first hospital in Massachusetts to offer robotic-assisted Mako® technology for partial knee replacement. In 2012, the hospital added Mako for total hip replacement and, in 2018, introduced MAKO for total knee replacement. To date, Saint Anne’s orthopedic surgeons – the most experienced in the region – have performed more than 1,200 Mako procedures. The hospital also has earned Blue Distinction recognition by Blue Cross Blue Shield for knee and hip replacement.

The process includes planning before the surgery. Before surgery, CT images are taken to create a patient-specific surgical plan that will guide the surgeon. During surgery, the system creates a 3-D, live-action view of the joint and matches it to the pre-surgical plan. The robotic arm provides real-time feedback to help the surgeon achieve precise positioning and placement of the new implant.  The end result is a more natural feeling joint.

Da Vinci for general surgery and specialty surgery

In 2017, Saint Anne’s introduced da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery for a wide range of procedures.

From hernia repair and colorectal surgery to bariatric surgery, prostate surgery and gall bladder surgery, the da Vinci system allows Saint Anne’s surgeons to perform intricate procedures through very small incisions. While seated at a special console with hand and foot controls, the surgeon moves the da Vinci’s robotic arms, which hold a 3-D high definition camera and instruments, to perform the procedure. The camera’s magnification allows the surgeon to clearly see the area to be operated on, while the arms are highly flexible – more flexible than the human wrist – so that the surgeon can easily and precisely maneuver the instruments as needed.

Globus ExcelsiusGPSTM for spine surgery

Spine issues, such as degenerative disk disease, fracture, or spinal stenosis, are painful and debilitating. The good news is: Saint Anne’s offers the area’s only GPS-guided robotic-assisted surgical option in spine care. Since Saint Anne’s became the first hospital in Massachusetts or Rhode Island in 2017 to offer this advanced robotic-assisted technology for spinal fusion and other procedures, more than 300 patients have enjoyed the benefits of this advanced technology.

The Globus ExcelsiusGPSTM system uses robotics and a sophisticated navigation system, similar to that in a car, to guide the surgeon in performing spinal procedures. Images that are taken before surgery are fed into the system to create a “map” of the patient’s anatomy. This “map” guides a robotic arm operated by the surgeon to the exact location for precise implant.

The hospital’s spine surgery program has earned special accreditation by the Joint Commission and Blue Distinction+ recognition by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Thinking about elective surgery?

If you have been considering an elective surgery such as joint replacement, hernia repair, or bariatric (weight loss) surgery, Saint Anne’s is safe and ready to meet your needs.

To learn if robotic-assisted surgery may be right for you, talk to your primary care provider.

For general information about robotic-assisted surgery at Saint Anne’s Hospital visit the hospital’s website at saintanneshospital.org/surgical-services.

Request more information by emailing Saint Anne’s Hospital at SAHMail@Steward.org.

About Saint Anne’s Hospital

Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in 1906, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River is a full-service, acute care Catholic hospital with 211 beds and satellite locations in Dartmouth, Attleboro, Swansea, New Bedford, and Stoughton. A member of Steward Health Care, Saint Anne’s provides nationally recognized patient- and family-centered inpatient care and outpatient clinical services to patients from surrounding Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities.

In addition to being one of only 32 U.S. hospitals to earn The Leapfrog Group’s “Straight A’s” for patient safety since 2012, Saint Anne’s has earned national recognition for multiple services, including cancer care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, joint replacement surgery, and stroke care, as well as patient experience. Stay up to date by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.


1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3702776/