Um, can you be more specific? Two NOMS orthopaedic surgeons surely can.
If you’re old enough to remember the delightful, animated world of The Jetsons, you will probably agree that in so many ways we’ve reached or exceeded “Orbit City’s” futuristic whimsy. (Without effort I can quickly rattle off the Apple watch, smart phones, Siri, Alexa, and video chat.)
Thirty minutes with the Jetson family was a then unfathomable farce – a world rife with holograms, flying cars, residential machines that dispense fully prepared “homemade” meals with the press of a button (big points if you remember it was called Food-a-Rac-a-Cycle), and coolest of all - robotics. Who didn’t love Rosie the robotic housekeeper?
Well, allow me to submit – assuredly, the “future” is now. Highly renowned experts in orthopaedic surgery, NOMS doctors David Pocos and Jason Brown have brought “futuristic” robotic surgery to our region. They are among the first in Northern Ohio to offer Mako SmartRobotics™.
This slick new approach to joint replacement offers the potential for a higher level of patient-specific implant alignment and positioning. The technology allows surgeons to create a patient-specific 3D plan and perform joint replacement surgery using a surgeon-controlled robotic-arm that helps execute the procedure with a phenomenal degree of accuracy.
Dr. Pocos feels Mako is changing the way joint replacement surgeries are performed. He says the system allows them to personalize each patient’s surgical plan pre-operatively, so there is a clear strategy for how they will position the implant before even entering the operating room.
He offered that during surgery, he and Dr. Brown validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments, while the robotic-arm then allows them to execute that plan with a high level of accuracy and predictability. He is enthused that the combination of these features of the system has the potential to lead to better outcomes and even higher patient satisfaction. Both Drs. Pocos and Brown offer robotic-arm guided total knee replacements; Dr. Pocos also offers robotic-arm guided total hip replacements.
He and Dr. Brown explained that besides heightened accuracy, Mako total knee replacements are different from traditional methods because the implant is designed to work with the body to promote a more natural circular motion.
The Mako total hip application is for adults suffering from degenerative joint disease of the hip. During surgery, they guide the robotic-arm to prepare the bone of the hip socket and position the implant according to the pre-determined plan. It’s impressive to know that in studies, the implant’s rounded joint-head-placement was four times more accurate and reproducible than manual total hip replacement procedures.
Dr. Brown added that they are proud to be among the first to use this innovative technology in our region because it’s integral to their commitment to providing the most advanced techniques and very best patient outcomes.
And as much as they enjoy talking about robotics, for now the doctors bid me adieu as they jet pack back to their patients to deliver even more great outcomes and speedy recoveries.
Lisa Nicolella,
VP Marketing Communications
Drs. Pocos and Brown perform robotic-assisted surgery at Fisher-Titus Medical Center located at 272 Benedict Avenue in Norwalk. Drs. Pocos and Brown see patients in Norwalk at 280 Benedict Ave., Ste. B. Dr. Pocos also is available in Willard at 1100 Neal Zick Rd. Dr. Brown also sees patients in Sandusky at 2800 Hayes Ave., Bldg. G. Patients may phone 419.663.5000 to schedule an appointment at any of their locations.
