Audio News | View Hip Replacement Surgery Live from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

MP3 File

New Brunswick – Using instruments and software that work like global positioning systems, orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Harwood will be performing minimally-invasive hip replacement surgery that will be carried live on the Internet.

The surgery will be broadcast from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital on Tuesday, September 13, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

In addition to the new technology, the surgeon will be using new materials for the implant that reduce friction and are more durable.

This new technology will be combined with a minimally-invasive technique that significantly reduces the length of both the incision and the surgery compared with traditional hip replacement surgery. The smaller incision not only leaves a smaller scar, but also reduces the amount of blood lost and tissue cut, thus reducing the patient’s recovery time.

Dr. Harwood explained that the new software maps landmarks in the hip and cameras show images of what the implant will look like before the first incision.

“This technology lessens the likelihood of implant placement complications and allows for a better range of motion for the patient,” said Dr. Harwood, who is also an associate professor at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick.

The Achieve brand computer-assisted instruments and software were created by Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics. By using this revolutionary software, Dr. Harwood is reducing the margin of error in hip replacement surgery. The Achieve application gives the surgeon crucial feedback about the movement of the instruments and implant relative to the patient’s anatomy, ensuring the implant’s precise placement.

In addition, Dr. Harwood will be using an implant made of a material that reduces friction and wear by as much as 85 percent. Oxidized zirconium, a combination of ceramics and metal, reduces friction and wear, which allows younger and more active patients to reap the benefits of hip replacement surgery without increased concern of needing a second surgery later in life.

“The combination of this imaging technology and the new implant reinforces Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s leadership in the orthopaedic medical community,” said Dr. Harwood. “Patients who come to our hospital can be confident they will have access to the best technology available.”

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Contact: Kristen Walsh, RWJUH (732) 937-8519