John Coffelt, Editor

Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian Petersen performed the area’s first ever robotic knee replacement operation Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Unity Hospital.

“This is new technology,” Dr. Petersen said. “We’ve done knee replacement for years using standard instrumentation – metal guides that we try to line up with patients’ bones.”

Petersen said that the new robotic device, the CORI Robot from Smith & Nephew, allows for real-time mapping of the interior structure of patients’ whole knee. The computer senses the optimum placement and depth of cuts for the replacement components. An attached bur device gives depth readouts and retracts to not allow incorrectly placed cuts.

“This is the most advanced knee replacement technology that we have,” he explained. “This is right on the cusp of the most advance that they have in the whole world right here in Manchester. If you read that Harvard does robotic knee replacements this is the exact same thing. This is what they are using and what they’re doing.” 

 “We can make use of smaller instrumentation, and we don’t have to make such big holes inside each bone that we use to set up our guides … (making) a less invasive surgery,” Petersen said.

The basic components of the surgery are the same as traditional knee replacement but the robotic devices allow more exact control during the surgery.

“Knee replacements are good, but they’re not perfect,” Petersen said. “No matter where you get it done, what you have, our studies show that 80-85% love them but 25% of the people don’t like their knee replacement.”

With the robotic assistance, a more precise replacement procedure helps provide a more natural feel to the joint.

Another important aspect of reaching a normal feeling joint is properly balancing the tension of the ligaments that control the knee. Traditionally, that adjustment is performed by feel, but now the device’s digital tensioner will measure the tightness of those ligaments through a whole range of motion. The one at Unity is one of the few that does the balancing.

“That’s what I’m almost more excited about,” Petersen said. “I think that is one of the things that will help balance the knee and make it feel more balanced. This is the next step in making them feel more normal.”

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.