Our Technology
Dr Ferguson is a firm believer in using innovative technology to enhance and improve his delivery of the highest quality orthopaedic care.
The Mako robot is the most technologically advanced orthopaedic robot available in Australia today. Dr Ferguson is very proud that Armidale Private Hospital is the first, and currently only, a regional hospital in NSW that has this amazing piece of technology. He is able to use this to perform robot-assisted knee replacements, and the Mako SmartRobotics 3D CT planning is used for accurate patient-specific planning of hip replacements.
The 360 Patient Partner Program enables, amongst other things, patients to access post-operative physiotherapist supervised rehabilitation from the comfort of their own homes. Patients on the program are provided with an iPad and a Garmin wearable activity monitoring device.
Mako Robotic Knee Replacement
With this technology, Dr Ferguson is able to accurately plan an operation, personalized to that patient’s knee, and then precisely carry out that plan by guiding a robotic arm to remove the required bone and cartilage.
What is involved?
Dr Ferguson will arrange for you to have a CT scan which is then used to create a 3D virtual model of your knee anatomy. This model is then loaded into the Mako SmartRobotics software, which is used to develop a personalized pre-operative plan for your knee replacement.
During the operation, Dr Ferguson uses a special probe to locate points on your knee, which then enables the Mako system to match up your knee with the 3D virtual model from the planning process.
The next step involves Dr Ferguson putting your knee through a full range of movement, whilst also stressing the ligaments to find if there is any tightness or looseness. The operative plan can then be modified, taking this information into account so that at the end of the procedure you have a perfectly balanced knee.
Finally, Dr Ferguson brings in the robotic arm, and guides it whilst it precisely cuts the bone according to the plan. The robot has virtual boundaries and provides physical feedback to Dr Ferguson to prevent excess bone from being removed, and minimizing any possible soft tissue damage.
Why use it?
The Mako system enables accurate, personalized pre-operative and intra-operative planning, followed by precise robot-guided bone cuts. Research has shown robotic knee replacements to have a number of advantages:
- Bespoke meticulous planning based around the patient’s bone and soft tissue anatomy
- More precise preparation of bone leading to more accurate positioning of components
- Improved patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction scores
- Reduced pain, blood loss, and hospital lengths of stay
360 Patient Partner Program – Rehab at home after hip and knee replacements
Dr Ferguson works closely with a specialised 360 Patient Partner Physiotherapist to deliver a customised exercise and rehabilitation program. Supported by most private health insurers, the Patient Partner Program has been successfully delivering at-home rehabilitation for total joint replacements at no additional out of pocket cost for the patient.
The 360 Patient Partner Program combines prehabilitation, rehabilitation and physiotherapy to ensure that you are well supported before, during and after surgery. One of the highlights of the program is you get to recover in the comfort of your own home via telemedicine while maintaining ongoing support from Dr Ferguson and the team.
Prescribed by Dr Ferguson, eligible patients under the 360 Patient Partner. The program will have access to:
- 360 Patient Partner Technology Pack:
- 4G enabled iPad (loan): access to rehabilitation exercise, online 24/7
- messaging, telemedicine
- Garmin (wearable fitness tracker): track physical step goal
- Cold compression pack (Knee patients only)
- Support throughout every step of your joint replacement journey by your Patient Partner
- Surgeon protocol and communication via your Patient Partner. Be confident in receiving the right information at the right time
- Patient education delivered through a hybrid of regular face to face and telemedicine video consultations with your Patient Partner
- A customised pre-and post-exercise rehabilitation program that is tailored to your needs
- Ongoing monitoring of your progress
- Online videos, tools and resources that are designed for you
