A man from Brighton said that having robotic surgery to replace his knee makes him feel "delighted, privileged, and lucky.".
One of the initial clients of the "innovative" procedure at the Sussex Orthopaedic Centre in Haywards Heath is Chris Ives, 74.
After suffering from severe osteoarthritis-related pain for more than ten years, Mr. Ives decided to have surgery.
While he heals, he plans to have the identical procedure done on his right knee.
Mr. Ives claimed that despite having limited movement, he continued to put off getting treatment for his left knee.
He said, "I just couldn't go on any longer.". I was able to choose which knee would be replaced first because I had severe arthritis in both of them, but it was unavoidable.
"However, I continued to put it off. When I reached that point, even simple daily activities like walking became difficult for me, and I had to take frequent breaks. ".
He underwent surgery at the Princess Royal Hospital's treatment center, the region's first NHS facility to offer Mako robot technology for knee replacements.
The robotic arm allows surgeons to communicate more effectively in the operating room and make much more precise bone cuts, protecting the soft tissues around the knee joint.
The procedure on Mr. Ives was carried out by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Majid Chowdhry.
We can use the same implant that we have been using in this location for many years, he said. Now that we have a lot more information and detail, we can simply add them.
"You can further adjust the position of your implants using motion sensors during the procedure to make them ideal for that patient. We are able to make precise cuts with secure boundaries thanks to the robot arm. ".
The ability to "regain more mobility" and engage in "more physical activities" than before is something Mr. Ives is looking forward to.
Christopher Ashcroft, the hospital's director, expressed his hope to eventually add hip replacement surgery to the hospital's scope of services.
