Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Sant Boi adds robotic surgery to knee replacement operations
The technique enables more precise and less invasive interventions, ensuring faster and less painful recovery
ROSA® is the advanced technology that assists the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology team
Sant Joan de Déu Sant Boi Hospital advances in operating room robotization with the introduction of the first robot to assist the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology team in knee prosthesis operations. With the introduction of ROSA® (Robot Surgical Assistant) from Zimmer Biomet, a cutting-edge technology for knee prosthesis placement that optimizes intervention precision, reduces operation time, is less invasive, and allows for more satisfactory recovery results for the patient.
"The use of ROSA is the present, the forefront, and the future of surgery, as well as an advance in our way of working, allowing us to achieve better long-term results. Additionally, through tools like robotic surgery, we can further customize prostheses and tailor them to each patient," assures Dr. Daniel Estévez, deputy of the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Service at SJD Sant Boi Hospital.
The robot consists of two parts. The first part is the robotic arm, which carries a cutting guide and assists surgeons during the procedure; and there is also a camera that monitors sensors placed on the patient’s leg. The built-in screen provides instructions to the medical team. "This type of technology also allows us to better understand the patient’s knee anatomy and provides exact measurements and the bone’s condition. This translates into much more precise prosthetic surgery, with fewer incisions and subsequent complications," affirms Dr. Beatriz Sahún, deputy of the Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Service. ROSA uses preoperative X-ray images and data collected during surgery to inform the surgeon in real-time about anatomical details, allowing proper implant adjustment during placement and, once completed, validating that the device is correctly positioned.
Benefits and advantages inside and outside the operating room
Robotic surgery spares the medical team a more invasive procedure, adding more benefits for the patient. Operating with fewer cuts and more precisely can reduce bleeding and better preserve soft tissues, meaning faster recovery with less hospitalization time. "The fact that we don’t use such an invasive technique is directly linked to faster recovery, with less postoperative pain, less swelling, fewer complications, and earlier functional recovery," explains Dr. Estévez.
Knee joint replacement surgery is a common procedure, with high projected growth due to the structural ageing of the population. In fact, it is estimated that in the near future, 90% of the population will need to undergo such a procedure.
"Advances like robotic surgery in orthopaedics not only improve patients' quality of life but also open the door to more personalized and efficient medicine." Having this robot places SJD Sant Boi Hospital at the forefront in this field, in line with our commitment to research and innovation," states Dr. Luis Lores, director of SJD Sant Boi Hospital.
The ROSA robot joins the HandX robotic clamp, a motorized laparoscopic device introduced in the hospital’s operating rooms in 2023 as a significant advance in minimally invasive surgery.
