Apollo Hospitals unveils Mako Robotic knee & hip surgery in Chennai
Knee surgery is getting a robotic assist. Apollo Hospitals in Chennai is using Mako SmartRobotics to support knee and hip replacements with greater precision.
Joint replacement is getting an increasingly technology-assisted makeover. Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, has crossed 2,000 robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgeries using technologies including Stryker’s Mako SmartRobotics system for knee and hip replacement.
The system is designed to help orthopaedic surgeons plan and perform joint replacements with detailed information about a patient’s anatomy. The robot, however, is not taking over the operating theatre. The surgeon remains in control throughout the procedure.
From CT scan to operating theatre
The process starts with a 3-D CT scan of the patient’s knee or hip. The scan is used to create a detailed model of the joint, giving surgeons a clearer view of the patient’s bone structure and helping them plan the procedure before surgery.
AI-powered planning then uses this patient-specific data to determine how the bone should be prepared and where the implant should be positioned. During surgery, the system analyses the anatomy and provides real-time feedback, while the surgeon remains responsible for the clinical decisions.
During surgery, the robotic arm assists the surgeon in following that plan. It provides guidance and control based on the information entered beforehand, while the surgeon makes the clinical decisions and carries out the procedure.
So, while “robotic surgery” might sound like something out of a sci-fi film, the Mako system is closer to a very sophisticated surgical assistant.
Why bring a robot into joint replacement?
Knee and hip replacements require careful preparation and implant positioning. Small differences in alignment can affect how a joint functions after surgery. Robotic assistance gives surgeons additional information during the procedure and helps them work from a patient-specific plan.
The aim is to add greater control and consistency to a process that already relies heavily on surgical skill and experience. According to Apollo’s team, the technology is part of the hospital’s wider effort to bring advanced tools into clinical care.
Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO of Apollo Hospitals Chennai Region, has also linked the adoption to supporting doctors with technology during patient care.
What patients should know
For people considering knee or hip replacement, the rollout adds a robotic-arm-assisted option at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. It does not, however, mean every patient will need robotic surgery.
The appropriate approach depends on factors including the condition of the joint, overall health, medical assessment and the surgeon’s recommendation. And despite the technology involved, the robot does not guarantee a particular outcome.
Patients still need to discuss the potential benefits, limitations, risks, recovery and costs with their doctor.
Apollo’s adoption of Mako SmartRobotics shows how surgical robotics is moving beyond specialist demonstrations and into everyday hospital care.