Orthopedic Innovation at Dartmouth General Hospital

Housed in Dartmouth General’s new Neville J.  Gilfoy Wing, the Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care has two ortho-dedicated operating rooms and  seven orthopedic surgeons performing the majority of HRM’s joint replacement procedures. Even with this increased capacity, we know that wait times are long. And as our population ages, the demand continues to grow.

Our innovation-minded orthopedic team is  always looking at the potential to operate more efficiently and effectively.

The introduction of an  orthopedic robot for  joint replacement surgery will be a game changer for Dartmouth  General and the entire
province.

The Fred Smithers  Centre for Orthopedic  Care is positioned to become the provincial  centre for all ½ knee  replacements. The addition of the orthopedic robot will  help position Nova Scotia as a leader in robotic surgery in  Canada and a global player in this emerging
field.

The orthopedic robot allows the surgeon to precisely plan joint replacements, custom- fit for each patient’s  anatomy, prior to any incision being made. This results in smaller incisions, less scarring, reduced blood loss  during surgery, and fewer post-op infections.

The robot allows for microscopic precision in the preparation of the  bone and the placement of the artificial joint,  which means higher  patient satisfaction rates and a reduction in the number of revision  surgeries required.

Revision surgeries take longer, are more complicated and come  with higher costs and risks. Reducing the need for revision surgeries frees up time for  surgeons and operating rooms – making room for more patients on the wait list to receive the  surgeries they need to get them moving again.

Robotic-assisted surgery is the way of the future and the Dartmouth General will be among those leading the way.

image description
The first total hip replacement surgery in Canada using the Mako SmartRobotics™ System has been completed at the Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care at the Dartmouth General Hospital.

The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub and Perioperative Services team have collaborated with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Leighton, the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, and Stryker, an industry partner and one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, to use this leading-edge technology that will transform the future of surgeries in Nova Scotia and support the recruitment and retention of clinical and research expertise at the Dartmouth General Hospital.