By Carrie Frye
Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN’s) addition of the MAKO RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System allows the experienced surgeons in AHN’s joint replacement program to provide leading-edge care that enhances outcomes for patients in Western Pennsylvania.
Nationwide, well over 1 million patients in the United States have hip or knee replacements annually, according to the CDC. The MAKO system provides a higher level of precision than conventional approaches, helping surgeons restore orthopedic patients’ mobility while reducing postoperative pain and hastening recovery. Surgeons at AHN’s Orthopaedic Institute performed the region’s first robotic-assisted complete-hip and partial-knee replacements with the MAKO system in January at West Penn Hospital. The technology is part of a circle of innovative orthopedic care at AHN that also includes its recently launched Diamond Care patient navigator program and an ongoing commitment to advancing the treatment of bone and joint disease through clinical research.
