“The robot is an assistant that helps the surgeon fine-tune a knee replacement,” says orthopedic surgeon, Eric Lebby, MD, Chief, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute. “A car works best when the wheels are in perfect balance and alignment. A computer helps the mechanic better align the wheels. The robotic system helps the surgeon fine-tune and balance the knee replacement. The robot can make a great surgeon even better.”
Lebby says the robotic system gives surgeons more information, which translates to greater precision. Since each person’s anatomy is different, joint replacement surgery is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. “This is another instrument to better produce superior results,” he says.
“The robotic system helps the surgeon fine-tune and balance the knee replacement. The robot can make a great surgeon even better.” – Eric Lebby, MD, Chief, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute
Not every patient undergoing joint replacement will require robotic-assisted surgery. LVHN surgeons performed nearly 5,000 joint replacement surgeries last fiscal year (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021), with the majority being partial- or full-knee replacements. That total is expected to increase in the current fiscal year (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022), though volume in both years was likely slowed slightly by the COVID-19 pandemic.