Current ER Wait Time:
Loading RSS Feed
 Minutes Learn More →

Evanston Regional Hospital Offering New Advanced Joint Replacement Surgery Option

Feb 1, 2021

Innovative robotic technology allows Evanston surgeon Micah Pullins, DO, to personalize total knee, partial knee, and total hip replacement procedures to each patient in western Wyoming and beyond.

Evanston Regional Hospital is the only hospital in Southwestern Wyoming or Park City, Utah with a highly advanced robot for joint replacement and a certified surgeon. On January 26, Micah Pullins, DO, performed the first surgical case at Evanston Regional Hospital using this innovative, personalized technology.

For patients suffering from severe arthritis, activities like grocery shopping or playing with grandkids can be painful. And while medication or physical therapy may ease pain, sometimes surgery may be more of a long-term solution. In addition to relieving pain, these procedures can enhance mobility and function and help patients rediscover the activities they love.

The technology combines three key components: 3D CT-based planning, bounded haptic technology, and insightful data analytics into one platform that has shown better outcomes for total knee, total hip and partial knee patients. 6-8

“This advancement in joint replacement surgery transforms total hip and total knee replacements,” said Dr. Pullins. “With this highly advanced technology, I know more about my patients than ever before, and I’m able to cut less.1-5* For some patients, this can mean less soft tissue damage3,4; for others, greater bone preservation.2,5 We start with a CT scan of the patient’s joint, and then create a 3-D model. I make a personalized plan based on each patient’s unique anatomy before entering the operating room. During surgery, I can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic arm to execute that plan. It’s exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology to perform total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements.”

During the surgery, Dr. Pullins guides the robotic-arm within the predefined area, and the robot helps the surgeon stay within the planned boundaries. This technology is robotic-assisted surgery, meaning Dr. Pullins remains in control of the entire surgery.

“We are proud to be only hospital in Western Wyoming and Park City currently offering this highly advanced technology,” said Cheri Willard, CEO of Evanston Regional Hospital. “This addition to our orthopedic service line means that our community doesn’t need to travel far, fight traffic, or breathe in polluted air to get a great experience while having major surgery. We offer the comforts of home alongside great physicians and advanced technology right here in Evanston.”


References:
1. Banks SA. Haptic robotics enable a systems approach to design of a minimally invasive modular knee arthroplasty. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2009;38(2 Suppl):23-27.
2. Suarez-Ahedo C, Gui C, Martin TJ, Chandrasekaran S, Lodhia P, Domb BG. Robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty results in smaller acetabular cup size in relation to the femoral head size: a matched-pair controlled study. Hip Int. 2017;27(2):147-152. doi:10.5301/hipint.5000418
3. Kayani B, Konan S, Pietrzak JRT, Haddad FS. Iatrogenic bone and soft tissue trauma in robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study and validation of a new classification system. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(8):2496-2501. doi:10.1016/j. arth.2018.03.042
4. Hozack WJ. Multicentre analysis of outcomes after robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty. Bone Joint J:Orthop Proc. 2018;100-B(Supp_12):38.
5. Hampp E, Chang TC, Pearle A. Robotic partial knee arthroplasty demonstrated greater bone preservation compared to robotic total knee arthroplasty. Poster presented at: Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting; February 2-5, 2019; Austin, TX.
6. Illgen RL Nd, Bukowski BR, Abiola R, et al. Robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty: outcomes at minimum two-year follow-up. Surg Technol Int. 2017;30:365-372.
7. Kayani B, Konan S, Tahmassebi J, Pietrzak JRT, Haddad FS. Robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty is associated with improved early functional recovery and reduced time to hospital discharge compared with conventional jig-based total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study. Bone Joint J. 2018;100-B(7):930-937. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.100B7.BJJ-2017-1449.R1
8. Kleeblad LJ, Borus TA, Coon TM, Dounchis J, Nguyen JT, Pearle AD. Midterm survivorship and patient satisfaction of robotic-arm-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a multicenter study. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(6):1719-1726. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2018.01.036