Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Surgical Hospital has added two robots for total hip and knee replacements, Rapid City Journal reported July 22.
Eight patients had the first surgeries using the two Mako SmartRobotics systems July 12. The robots are the first of their kind to be installed in the Black Hills and eastern Wyoming region.
The hospital decided on Mako after about three years of training and research. Eight surgeons at the hospital are trained to use the system.
"This is … another safety measure to ensure that we can have a personalized plan for each patient and we know more, cut less [and] protect soft tissues," Luke Mortimer, MD, orthopedic surgeon and president of Black Hills Orthopedics said. "It's exciting, it's unique and it's really good for the community."