CLYDEBANK’S Golden Jubilee has become the first Scottish hospital to use a robot for routine total and partial knee replacement surgery.

Compared to non-robotic surgery, patients will now benefit from greater implant accuracy, reduced soft tissue damage and blood loss.

The cutting-edge procedure is less invasive - resulting in reduced pain, shorter length of stay and an earlier return to normal activity.

Nick Ohly, the consultant orthopaedic surgeon who was the first to treat patients using the Mako robot, said: “It is extremely exciting to be the first NHS hospital in Scotland to be able to offer robotic arm assisted partial and total knee replacements to NHS patients as part of routine care.

“The Mako robot is unique in orthopaedics in allowing the surgeon to implant every joint replacement in the optimal position for each individual patient based on their specific anatomy, while minimising bone resection and soft tissue injury. This allows for reduced pain after surgery, optimised function and quicker recovery.”

The Mako robot builds a virtual 3D model of each patient’s anatomy based on a pre-operative CT scan, which is then validated by live intra-operative measurements. The surgeon is then able to fine-tune the position of each component to work best for each patient. The robotic arm is then used to make precise bony cuts according to the surgical plan, which conserves bone and minimises soft tissue damage.

Initially concentrating on knee replacements, the plan is that the robot will also be used for hip replacements in the near future.