Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 23: The Central Institute of Orthopaedics (CIO) at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital has successfully performed its first robot-assisted Total Knee Replacement (TKR), marking a significant step in expanding technology-enabled orthopaedic care within India's public healthcare system.
The procedure was performed on August 22 on a 75-year-old economically disadvantaged man and was carried out completely free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at the Central Government hospital.
The introduction of robotic orthopaedic surgery at the institute has been undertaken with the leadership and support of Dr Kavita Sharma, Director, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, with the aim of strengthening the hospital's capacity to provide advanced orthopaedic treatment using modern surgical technology.
The landmark procedure was performed under the clinical guidance of Prof. Dr Sumit Sural, Director, Central Institute of Orthopaedics. The surgical team was led by Dr Bhagwati Prasad Sharma, Consultant Professor and Head of Unit.
The orthopaedic team included Dr Bhagwati Prasad Sharma, Dr Dhruve Maini and Dr Kartik Yadav. The anaesthesia team was led by Dr Sushil Guria, while operating theatre nursing staff Sister Rekha and Ritika, along with technical staff led by Vijender, supported the procedure.
Robotic platform expands treatment options
The hospital said the successful surgery demonstrates its commitment to making advanced surgical technology accessible to economically weaker patients.
The newly introduced robotic system features an upgradable platform that can expand the range of robot-assisted procedures available at the Central Institute of Orthopaedics.
At present, the system can support Total Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement and Hip Joint Replacement. Future technological and software upgrades could enable robot-assisted spine surgery, potentially broadening the institute's advanced surgical capabilities.
Robot-assisted surgery can facilitate detailed pre-operative planning and precise execution during procedures, particularly in areas such as implant positioning and alignment.
The availability of the technology at CIO is expected to strengthen the hospital's ability to provide sophisticated orthopaedic procedures to patients in the coming years.
Advanced care under Ayushman Bharat
The hospital said performing the procedure free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat framework demonstrates that sophisticated robotic-assisted treatment can be integrated into public healthcare while remaining accessible to economically weaker sections.
The initiative also supports the broader objective of equitable healthcare delivery by bringing advanced surgical technology into a Central Government institution.
The successful completion of the first robot-assisted TKR marks an important milestone in the expansion of technology-enabled orthopaedic services at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and lays the foundation for the Central Institute of Orthopaedics to offer a wider range of robotic-assisted procedures in the future.