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Our knees absorb a lot of shock on a daily basis, from walking and taking stairs to enjoying other forms of exercise. It is also one of the most complicated joints in the body, composed of the femur, patella and top section of the tibia, and held together by tendons and ligaments, along with cartilage to keep joint motion fluid and protect the bones against impact. Adversely affected by too much weight, diabetes, osteoarthritis and improper footwear, knees are prone to wear and tear over time.

Because knees are as unique to a person as fingerprints and eye retinas, the evolution of customized knee replacement surgery offers unique solutions based on patients’ individual needs.

Introducing THINK Surgical® TSolution One® Robot

Centennial Hills Hospital was the site of the first total knee replacement procedure in the west using the THINK Surgical® robot system. It was performed by Ronald Hillock, MD, orthopedic surgeon, on March 14, 2022.

THINK Surgical developed the TSolution One® robot, which creates a customized joint replacement plan for each patient prior to surgery through the TPLAN® 3D Planning Workstation and TCAT® computer-assisted tool.

“The pre-surgical plan enables the surgeon to design and prepare the customized plan in a virtual environment,” explained Sajit Pullarkat, CEO, Centennial Hills Hospital. “Then, the active robot assists the surgeon to execute this plan with precision cutting to remove diseased bone and cartilage.”

First Procedure Performed by Ronald Hillock, MD

"I am very excited to be offering what I consider the next-level, robotic technology to my patients. I’ve evaluated all the other systems on the market, and, in my opinion, none compare to the cutting accuracy of this system,” said Dr. Hillock. “Accurate cuts are crucial to ensure proper fit of the implant and avoid loosening, which commonly results from poor cuts.”

As part of THINK Surgical’s program, surgeons can also choose from a variety of knee implants developed by multiple manufacturers because the THINK system has an open implant library. This adds to the ability to customize the total knee replacement procedure.

Providing Customized Orthopedic Surgery Technology for Area Residents

Centennial Hills Hospital has continued to enhance its orthopedic service line to improve the patient experience. In July 2021, it was the first acute care hospital to offer the iovera° treatment as part of its pre-operative pain management treatment for primary and revision total knee replacement surgery. The iovera° treatment is a clinically proven, non-opioid [narcotic] pain management solution that uses the body's natural response to cold to relieve pain.

Additionally, the orthopedics division added robotic-guided technology for spine surgery, allowing surgeons to create a customized surgery plan using customized CT-based three-dimensional models of patients’ spines prior to surgery. A 36-bed orthopedic surgical patient care unit with its own therapy gym opened in December 2020, and the hospital was re-certified for The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® for Core Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.