SCOTTSBLUFF --  Regional West is now offering Mako SmartRobotics™, an advancement in joint replacement surgery that transforms the way total knee, partial knee, and total hip replacements are performed. The innovative robotic technology allows surgeons to personalize procedures to each patient, with less pain and quicker recovery time. 

Using Mako’s 3D CT, surgeons create a personalized plan based on each patient’s anatomy before entering the operating room. During surgery, they can validate the plan and make necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic arm. 

“It’s exciting to offer this transformative technology as an additional option in our joint replacement service line for total knee, total hip, and partial knee replacements,” said Austin McPhilamy, MD, a surgeon at Regional West Physicians Clinic-Orthopaedics. “With Mako SmartRobotics, we can perform surgeries with much greater precision compared to using manual instruments alone.” 

By 2030, total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase 189 percent. Mako Total Knee combines Stryker’s advanced robotic technology with its clinically successful Triathlon Total Knee System, which enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased precision and accuracy. In clinical studies, Mako Total Knee demonstrated the potential for patients to experience less pain, less need for opiate analgesics, less need for inpatient physical therapy, a reduction in length of hospital stay, improved knee flexion, and greater soft tissue protection in comparison to manual techniques. 

Mako SmartRobotics™ for partial knee replacement is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. During surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm to execute the predetermined surgical plan and positions the implant. By selectively targeting just the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, surgeons can resurface the diseased portion of the knee while helping protect the healthy bone surrounding the knee joint. Studies have shown that robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement leads to greater accuracy of implant position compared to manual partial knee replacement procedures. 

By 2030, total hip replacements in the United States are projected to grow 171 percent. Mako SmartRobotics™ for total hip replacement is a treatment option for adults who suffer from degenerative joint disease of the hip. During surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm to prepare the hip socket and positions the implant according to the predetermined surgical plan.  Regional West provides a full continuum of care, from initial consultation, post-surgery follow-up care, and a full array of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services – all tailored to a patient’s specific health situation. 

“We are proud to add yet another option for our patients needing orthopaedic services at Regional West,” said Mel McNea, Regional West CEO. “Coupled with our expansive continuum of care, patients can have the procedure done close to home and better yet, they have all the rehabilitation services they may need here, too.” 

About Regional West: Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a regional referral center celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024 and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. As the region’s sole tertiary medical center, Regional West features an expansive array of medical specialties and numerous physician clinics. Regional West offers comprehensive and innovative healthcare services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.