The manufacturer of the ROSA Hip System, the latest advancement in surgical robotics, states that it is “precisely personalized” by providing surgeons with real-time data and imaging feedback on the patient’s unique hip anatomy.
ROSA Hip is now being offered at Baptist Health South Florida as the most advanced option for patients requiring hip replacement surgery with the “direct anterior” minimally invasive approach, explains Charles M. Lawrie, M.D., a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, who contributed research and expertise to the development of ROSA, manufactured by Zimmer Biomet.
Charles M. Lawrie, M.D., a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care.
At Baptist Health Doctors Hospital, Dr. Lawrie has started utilizing the ROSA system on several patients requiring minimally invasive replacements for either the hip or knees.
ROSA Hip has numerous advantages over other similar robotic systems, including providing the equivalent of real-time CT (computerized tomography) scanning, explains Dr. Lawrie. That save the patient time and eliminates the need for a lengthy CT scan prior to surgery.
“It doesn't require a CT scan and it provides 2D to 3D technology,” said Dr. Lawrie. “So, it can take X-rays in two planes and actually reconstruct what that patient's anatomy looks like in 3D. That saves the patients a step. And it saves them some radiation and some cost of having to get that additional scan.”
The direct anterior approach is a type of hip replacement surgery that involves minimally invasive techniques. The surgeon makes a small incision near the front of the hip to allow for removal of damaged bone and cartilage, and implantation of an artificial hip without damaging surrounding muscle and tendons. Patients leave the hospital sooner than they would with some other approaches.
The ROSA System provides more precise positioning for the surgeon, said Dr. Lawrie. “On the hip side, it allows us to accurately measure things like limb length discrepancies and femoral and hip offset, which refers to the distance from the femur to the pelvis,” he said.
ROSA also spares the patients additional components required by other robotic systems.
“It helps us put the acetabular component into the pelvis using a robotic arm to hold it in our desired position – without mounting any pins or sensors on the pelvis which typically has been the process with other systems. The ROSA system uses just X-rays to essentially create a 3D coordinate system in the operating room. Then the system uses a robotic arm that positions the implant exactly where we want it. And it holds it there while we have control over its placement.”
Dr. Lawrie is one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in the country that is fully certified and trained to perform hip resurfacing, which is intended for certain patient candidates. Additionally, he continues to be involved in designing and developing technology and implants for hip and knee replacement to improve patient outcomes.
“The patient ultimately benefits because this is a more surgeon-friendly robotic system, providing more precision, more efficiency, and less damage to soft tissues,” said Dr. Lawrie. “We also anticipate faster recoveries, fewer complications and less outliers. I helped with designing the hip application for the ROSA system. And we’re very excited about the benefits this new system will provide to our patients.”
