Seoul National University Hospital Performs South Korea’s First Robot-Assisted Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Using MAKO Robot System
- Precision robotic surgery enhances accuracy and accelerates recovery in highly complex joint revision procedures
Seoul National University Hospital (President and CEO Nam-Jong Paik) announced that it successfully performed the nation’s first robot-assisted revision total hip arthroplasty using the MAKO robotic surgical system in March, subsequently completing a total of four successful procedures to date.
Total hip arthroplasty is a standard treatment for conditions such as osteonecrosis of femoral head, degenerative arthritis of jip joint, and hip fractures. It reduces pain and restores mobility by replacing the damaged joint with an artificial implant. While the vast majority of patients successfully return to their daily routines following the initial surgery, a subset of patients eventually requires revision surgery (reoperation) due to implant wear, loosening, recurrent dislocation, or osteolysis*.
*Osteolysis: A phenomenon where surrounding bone melts due to an immune and biological response to wear debris between the joint and bone
[Figure] Pelvis from a frontal view
In particular, acetabular* revision surgery is a highly complex procedure. It demands rigorous preoperative planning and stable fixation of the hip prosthesis, as patients often present with significant bone defects and distorted anatomical structures that obscure normal landmarks.
* Acetabulum(Acetabular): The socket portion of the ball-and-socket hip joint that houses the femoral head
Although the MAKO robotic surgical system has been widely utilized for primary total hip and knee arthroplasties, it had not previously been applied to joint revision surgeries.
The orthopedic surgery team at SNUH established customized, 3D surgical plans based on preoperative CT scans using the MAKO system. By precisely aligning and seating the acetabular cup at the optimal position and angle, the team successfully completed four revision surgeries. This precision has significantly enhanced joint stability and minimized the risk of post-operative dislocation, with all treated patients currently demonstrating stable recovery trajectories.
Professor Hong-Seok Kim (Department of Orthopedic Surgery) said "Revision total hip arthroplasty is an exceptionally demanding procedure where surgeons must simultaneously address bone defects and distorted anatomy altered by previous surgeries. The MAKO robotic system allowed us to precisely execute our preoperative plans during actual surgery, enabling the meticulous reconstruction of the acetabular cup position and the joint center."
Professor Jeong-Joon Yoo (Department of Orthopedic Surgery) added "This pioneering case in South Korea demonstrates that robotic surgical technology is highly effective even in complex revision surgeries. We will continue our efforts to provide patients with increasingly precise and safe surgical treatments moving forward."
[Photo from left] Professor Jeong-Joon Yoo and Hong-Seok Kim, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at SNUH
