LELAND, NC, September 21, 2021 — Just one year after opening, the region’s first outpatient orthopedic surgery center now offers two new robotic-assisted knee replacement systems for patients considering joint replacement surgery.

The team of joint replacement surgeons at the nationally accredited Brunswick Surgery Center has invested in two industry-leading robotic systems and is excited to bring both the innovative ROSA® Knee System and the Mako® SmartRobotics system to the outpatient surgical setting. With these additions, Brunswick Surgery Center now offers the most comprehensive outpatient robotics program in the Southeast.

Typically, robotic-assisted technology exists in hospital-based programs and in larger academic centers or major hospital networks. Now residents of southeastern North Carolina have options for highly innovative robotic technology much closer to home, in an accredited outpatient surgery center.

Brunswick Surgery Center’s teams of exceptionally experienced surgeons, anesthesiologists and staff provide highly advanced pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative surgical care, and are committed to continuing to invest in the most advanced technology for their surgery patients. The two new robotic systems add to the arsenal of orthopedic surgery tools already in place at the state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center.

Both the ROSA & Mako systems can be used for total knee replacements now, and for partial knee and total hip replacements in the near future. The systems combine the surgeon’s expertise and experience with computer-generated, real-time data during the surgery, allowing for better precision and accuracy. With the improved precision of the intra-operative robot, the surgeon can perfectly balance and align the joint replacement specific to the patient. As a result, the joint replacement can achieve optimal motion and function.

“The main goal of any new technology in healthcare is to elevate the current standard and enhance a patient’s desired outcome,” said Eric J. Lescault, DO, a board-certified joint replacement specialist at EmergeOrtho who is the region’s first surgeon to be certified on the Mako SmartRobotics Total Knee System. “I urged the adoption of the technology because I was blown away by the patient benefits. It provides a consistent roadmap to a more reproducible and desired outcome.”

In clinical studies, robotic systems have demonstrated the potential for patients to experience less pain, less need for opiate analgesics, less need for physical therapy, improved knee flexion and soft tissue protection in comparison to manual techniques. “To see patients walk into the office without a cane or walker ten days after their surgery is much more common than with conventional means,” said Dr. Lescault.

“Mako’s 3D CT allows me to create a personalized plan based on each patient’s unique anatomy, all before entering the operating room,” remarked Walter Frueh, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained joint replacement and reconstruction specialist with EmergeOrtho Wilmington. “During surgery, I can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic arm to execute that plan. It’s exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology across the joint replacement service line.”

The ROSA® Knee System also brings together robotic technology with industry-leading knee implants to help surgeons personalize surgical procedures for their patients. “The robotic ROSA Knee system gives me the intraoperative smart assistant for perfect bone resections and the ability to balance the ligaments to build the perfect joint replacement,” explained Scott Hannum, MD, the medical director of Brunswick Surgery Center and a board-certified specialist in knee and hip replacements. “There are slight differences in the two robotic systems. Your surgeon will discuss the benefits particular to each patient’s needs during an office consultation.”

Prior to introducing the outpatient robotics program, the team of surgeons at Brunswick Surgery Center has established and implemented a rapid recovery protocol using innovative strategies for patient selection, perioperative optimization and pain management, not only for joint arthroplasty but for most orthopedic surgery cases. Despite the highly advanced technology and equipment, and the exceptional level of surgical experience and expertise, outpatient orthopedic and spine surgery are usually less expensive than the same surgeries performed in an inpatient hospital setting.

“These additions to Brunswick Surgery Center further demonstrate our continued commitment to provide the community with outstanding orthopedic care,” said Dr. Hannum.

To celebrate their one-year anniversary, Brunswick Surgery Center is offering a series of open house educational seminars on October 7 and 21, and November 4 and 18, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The first event will feature the revolutionary new outpatient robotics knee replacement program from two of the region’s renowned experts: Eric Lescault, DO and Scott Hannum, MD. The public is invited to meet the robots and enjoy light refreshments. Masks are required and space is limited.

Seven EmergeOrtho surgeons are certified to perform robotic knee replacement: Walter Frueh, MD; Scott Hannum, MD; Jeremy Hines, MD; Thomas Kelso, MD; Eric Lescault, DO; Michael Marushack, MD; and John O’Malley, MD.