CLEARFIELD – One of several investments being made by Penn Highlands Healthcare for local communities was unveiled yesterday at the Clearfield Campus.
Mako, a robotic surgical assistant built by Stryker, has already made its debut in the orthopedic operating rooms at both Clearfield and DuBois, and will assist orthopedic surgeons with knee surgeries, knee replacements and hip replacements.
The system, which includes the software package, maintenance, etc., cost $1.5 million, part of a $110 million construction and upgrade project across PHH. In Clearfield, that includes work on the Yingling Cancer Center building and also the emergency room.
Dr. Mark Nartatez, one of the surgeons utilizing Mako, said this is the kind of system normally found in hospitals such as Pittsburgh, and to have one in a rural setting is both rare and groundbreaking.
“Penn Highlands orthopedic remains here for this community and maintains a center of excellence,” he said, adding that technological advances allow the hospitals to keep up with bigger health systems in caring for patients.
Only 850 systems in 26 countries have such a system, which has been utilized for 14-15 years, and the process has been peer reviewed in 145 publications.
The robot, which is entirely guided and directed by the surgeon, allows for more precise surgical cutting and placement of artificial joints and other hardware, while the surgeon makes all the decisions as the operation takes place.
Nartatez said the technology allows for improved accuracy and precision with less soft-tissue damage, resulting in less pain and a shorter recovery time.
In addition to the robotic system itself, the software allows for a three-dimensional scan prior to surgery, allowing the surgeon to determine the best place to begin and pre-plan how the surgery will go.
The three-dimensional images are unique to every patient, showing all the variations in their anatomy that will affect how the surgery moves forward, something that often isn’t addressed until the surgical team is working on the replacement.
Nartatez said he has had patients ask about such a system in the past, and he was only able to offer them referral to a hospital that was hours away if they wanted the robotic-assisted procedure.
Now, Clearfield and DuBois are scheduling surgeries with the machine, one of which is available at each facility, and the doctors expect patients from surrounding communities to come to Penn Highlands for surgery because of Mako.
“I’m very excited for the community,” he said, “I think it will provide better outcomes.”
And it is possible that someday Mako, or a similar machine, might be used for other procedures as the Stryker corporation continues to work on more applications.