Allegheny Health Network Orthopaedic Institute Celebrates 1,500 Mako™ Robotic Arm-Assisted Knee and Hip Surgeries at Allegheny General Hospital

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Orthopaedic Institute recently celebrated 1,500 Mako™ Robotic Arm-Assisted hip and knee replacement surgeries at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH). AHN was the first program in western Pennsylvania to use Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Technology in May 2014.

"Performing over 1,500 surgeries with the assistance of Mako™ is a true milestone for not only the Orthopaedic Institute, but the entire western Pennsylvania region," shared Dr. Patrick DeMeo, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and Chair of the AHN Orthopaedic Institute. "The ability to utilize such transformative technology for knee and hip replacements across AHN has allowed us to provide the most innovative care to our patients, offering better clinical outcomes and overall quality of life."

Mako™ Technology provides an innovative solution for hip and knee replacements to relieve patients of pain from osteoarthritis, or "wear and tear" arthritis. The Mako™ system uses a computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient's joint to create a 3-dimensional map of the surgical area, providing patients with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific anatomy. After pre-planning each patient's unique surgery, the robotic arm then assists the surgeon as damaged bone is cut away, limiting the drilling to areas that were pre-defined in the surgical plan.

The Mako™ Robotic Arm allows orthopaedic surgeons to operate with increased precision and accuracy, resulting in less blood loss, less pain, limit soft tissue damage, along with decreased hospitalization and quicker recovery times in most cases.

"The robotic joint replacement program at AHN helps improve long-term outcomes for patients, diversifies innovative techniques for training residents and fellows, and ultimately allows surgeons to rapidly advance the field of joint replacement," shared Timothy Sauber, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and clinical lead of the Mako program. "We lead the region in Mako™ Technology and serve as an international training center for surgeons interested in learning how to apply this technology to their practice."

In addition to AGH, knee and hip procedures utilizing Mako™ Technology are performed at Forbes Hospital, Saint Vincent Hospital, and West Penn Hospital. Across AHN, over 4,000 surgeries have been performed using Mako Technology to date.

About the Allegheny Health Network:
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), a Highmark Health company, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 12 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women's health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,500 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Media Contact

Emily (Schaffer) Beatty, Allegheny Health Network, (513) 678-9620, [email protected]

SOURCE Allegheny Health Network