First patient undergoes robotic-assisted knee surgery at Halton Hospital

A Warrington man has become the first patient at North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust to have a full knee replacement using a new robotic surgical assistant, ROSA.

Andrew Robinson, 66, a retired HGV mechanic from Dallam, was in significant pain with his knee and it had started to affect his everyday life.

He had always enjoyed being active but found that walking had become increasingly difficult and he was restricted to shorter distances.

Andrew underwent a full knee replacement using the robotic knee system in the theatres at the Captain Sir Tom Moore (CSTM) Building at Halton Hospital earlier this month and was able to leave hospital the following day.

The advanced technology gives consultants detailed information about a person’s knee anatomy before and during the operation. The robot creates a three-dimensional picture of the knee, supporting surgeons to improve precision and accuracy when positioning the implant, helping to reduce pain for the patient and speed up recovery.

Speaking about his experience, Andrew said: “My knee was worn out and I was in a lot of pain, so I couldn’t walk very far. When the consultant spoke to me about using a robot during my surgery, I was happy to go ahead. He explained everything to me and I trusted him.

“The whole experience was really good. The team were great and everyone looked after me. My recovery has been going well and I'm surprised by how much movement I already have.”

Following his surgery, Andrew is now looking forward to enjoying an active lifestyle once again and is already walking with greater ease.

“The scar is really neat and I can already tell my knee is better than it was before. I’m looking forward to getting back to longer walks with my wife Debbie and getting back on my bike. We’re also hoping to get a motorhome next year, so I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy doing those things again”, he said.

The procedure was carried out by Mr Gareth Stables, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at North Cheshire and Mersey.

He said: “It was a privilege to carry out the trust’s first full knee replacement using the robotic assistant. For someone who needs a knee replacement this new technology helps us to tailor the operation more closely to their anatomy, helping to reduce their time in hospital and get them back to enjoying their life. Andrew’s surgery went very well, and the theatre team worked extremely well together throughout the procedure.

“We’re looking forward to offering robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery to more patients over the coming weeks and months.”

The introduction of robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery is part of North Cheshire and Mersey’s ongoing work to develop its orthopaedic services and provide patients across Warrington, Halton and the surrounding communities with access to new forms of treatment closer to home.