3 0 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
enhance the outcomes of
surgeons who haven't
done enough uni knees to
become proficient, and
even improve the consis-
tency and outcomes of
experienced surgeons.
Once they see the repro-
ducible outcomes robot-
ics affords in potentially
20% of their total knee patient population, they'll be able to quickly build up case
volumes.
My physician partners and I experienced this rapid growth in case volumes.
We launched our outpatient joint program in 2014. In May 2015, I performed
my first outpatient partial knee and total hip procedures using the robotics
platform. Six months later, patient demand was so high and the return on
investment so significant that we planned to pay off the robot much earlier
than expected and decided to add a second platform. For the last 8 months,
we've had both systems up and running and case volume continues to be
strong.
The robotic platform's $1 million price tag is admittedly steep, but facilities
can buy the platform outright, lease it or enter into a capital lease over several
years in order to find a financial fit. Besides, the number of cases we've been
able to add since bringing robotics online has more than offset the initial invest-
ment.
OSM
• EXTRA GUIDANCE Robotics can help surgeons overcome some of the inherent chal-
lenges of using conventional instrumentation when placing implants.
Joseph
Nessler,
MD
Dr. Nessler (revise60@me.com) is a hip and knee replacement
surgeon at St. Cloud (Minn.) Orthopedics. He's a part-owner of the St.
Cloud Surgical Center and is also affiliated with St. Cloud Hospital.