On the afternoon of April 3, in Da Nang, a new step in the field of orthopedic trauma was established when artificial intelligence (AI) robot technology was first successfully applied to replace the knee joint, helping patients recover rapidly and be able to walk immediately after leaving the operating table.
For many years, Ms. Phan Thi Nghiep (63 years old, Da Nang) has had to live with the tormenting pain caused by degree 4 knee osteoarthritis. All activities from standing up, sitting down to walking have become a burden, forcing her to completely depend on relatives. Despite persistent medical and physical therapy treatment, the condition of joint deformity and limb axis deformity is still increasingly serious, threatening the risk of permanent disability.
However, Ms. Nghiep's life has turned a new page after a special 1-hour surgery at Vinmec Da Nang Hospital. This is the first knee replacement surgery using AI-integrated CORI robot performed in the Central region.
In particular, the cost of surgery is also supported by Vinmec's Robot Application Insurance Fund in Medicine, reducing the burden on patients.
The difference of this technique is that the robot system acts as an intelligent "guide", supporting doctors to recreate a 3D knee joint model of the patient right during the surgery. Thanks to that, doctors can make detailed plans, locate bone removal positions and place artificial joints with an error of less than 1 mm.
MSc.BSCKII Le Quang Minh, Head of Surgery Department (Vinmec Da Nang Hospital), said that the application of robots helps optimize surgery efficiency by reducing invasion, accurately balancing the ligament system and mechanical axis of the lower extremities. This not only helps minimize pain but also limits premature joint erosion or postoperative complications commonly encountered in traditional methods.
The results of the surgery were a big surprise when the patient could stand up and practice walking immediately after surgery with the support of medical staff. Sharing in emotion, Ms. Nghiep said: "It feels like these are really my legs, no longer as heavy and painful as before.
Assessing this event, BS.CKII Truong Van Trinh - Deputy Director of Da Nang City Department of Health said that mastering high and advanced techniques not only improves the treatment capacity of the city's health sector but also helps people in the Central region access high-quality healthcare right in the locality, effectively reducing the burden on central-level hospitals.
