The use of computers is hardly limited to what takes place in the privacy of the home, school, or office. Here is the kind of utility that has the potential to revolutionize the field of surgery as well. A Delhi based hospital has already started to perform knee replacement surgeries with computer aid.
The use of computers for the surgery is said to be associated with a reduction in technical failures. More specifically, it reduces the chances of bad alignment requiring revision surgeries according to the doctors.The surgery was performed by Dr. Sharma, on a 54-year-old patient suffering form arthritis and took 15 minutes longer than the conventional knee replacement surgery.
The computer-navigated system, costing around Rs.10 million, is designed to help both the surgeons and their patients. The doctor benefits from the directions received on the basis of the patient's bone profile registered on the computer with the help of infrared rays and sensors. On the basis of the bone profile, the computer guides the surgeon on the shaping of the knee bone as per the patient's requirement.
Though the success rate of these surgeries depend on a lot of factors, computer-aided knee surgeries, which are still a relatively new technique, have helped reduce improper alignment and thereby improve the longevity of implants.
The technological advancement is believed to benefit the Indian patients where over 12,000 patients undergo total knee arthroplasty every year.
The surgery cost is compatible with the traditional knee replacement surgery and works out to be around Rs.180, 000, with the promise of better results. So what are you waiting for?
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