Robot-enabled hip and knee surgery clinical trial at Hywel Dda University Health Board

Researchers at Hywel Dda University Health Board are delivering the first Welsh clinical trial using state-of-the-art surgeon-guided robots to carry out hip and knee replacement surgery.

The project is one of a number of patient-centred research and development projects led by Hywel Dda University Health Board’s TriTech Institute and its Research and Development division, which is funded in part through Health and Care Research Wales.

Joint replacement surgery is one of the most common operations performed by the NHS. The aim of the trial is to determine whether using robots results in better outcomes for joint replacement patients.

In robot-assisted hip and knee replacement surgery, a robotic arm helps preparing the bone and inserting the components to a pre-programmed three-dimensional plan. Using a robot to perform the surgery is thought to enable more precise, consistent surgical techniques, which may help to reduce variation and potentially prevent poor outcomes and complications that can require additional surgery.

The clinical trial is funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and delivered between Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) in Birmingham, in partnership with Hywel Dda.

Professor Peter Cnudde, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and a recipient of the Health and Care Research Wales Research Time Award (RTA), said:

Robot-assisted surgery is used with great success in many procedures and can bring numerous advantages when compared to standard surgery. It is a big achievement for the team to be at the forefront of a world-leading multi-centre study like this, and we’re really pleased to be able to get the clinical trial started.

Adding robot-assisted surgery to the surgical provision available at Hywel Dda UHB will, I believe, be of real benefit to our patients, and I look forward to leading this important piece of work.”

Professor Chris Hopkins, Head of Innovation and the Tritech Institute at Hywel Dda University Health Board said:

We are pleased that our surgeons at Hywel Dda UHB are playing a leading role in this clinical trial. We hope that the programme will lead to improved patient outcomes and go some way in tackling pressures in our system and our planned care waiting lists. The research findings will undoubtedly help orthopaedic surgeons across our health board and across the world understand the most effective tools and technology for performing hip and knee replacement surgery and deliver excellent patient care.”

In addition to recording clinical and patient outcomes, the study will include an in-depth health economic analysis to inform the NHS if this element of robot-assisted technology should be widely adopted.

Professor Leighton Phillips, Director for Research, Innovation and University Partnerships at Hywel Dda University Health Board added:

At Hywel Dda UHB, we pride ourselves on enabling our staff to engage in research and development that not only meets the needs of our current population but forges the way for future patients. We welcome the partnership with the Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) in Birmingham and the National Institute for Health and Care Research and look forward to influencing future orthopaedic innovations through our findings.”

Pictured (L-R) senior charge nurse, Jeremy Thomas, junior charge nurse, Anthony Macabitis, senior sister, Lorna Amarillo, junior sister, Charlie Ledbury, junior charge nurse, Gary Peters and staff nurse, Glaiza Juanites