The Westchester Orthopedic Center at St. John’s Riverside Hospital is the first and only hospital in Westchester to offer the full range of MAKOplasty® Robotics for partial knee, total hip and total knee replacements. MAKOplasty uses a computerized navigation system to assist surgeons in precisely aligning orthopedic implants through GPS technology.
Prior to the procedure, surgeons work with patients to create a personalized treatment plan, using a three dimensional image to help determine the implant's exact size, position and alignment. During surgery, the innovative robotic arm technology allows surgeons to localize treatment, removing only the damaged part of bone and leaving the surrounding area untouched. As a result, patients often recover faster and require shorter hospital stays.
One such patient was Peter Grimaldi, a 61 year old former triathlete and weekend warrior. Since suffering from hip pain, living the lifestyle he loved had become impossible. After hiking, cycling or just going for a walk, he was often left in nightly pain. Wanting a solution that allowed him to return to his former lifestyle, Grimaldi turned to the joint experts at St. John’s Riverside.
After meeting with Dr. David Lent from St. John’s Riverside Hospital Westchester Orthopedic Center, Grimaldi was recommended as a candidate for the MAKOplasty Hip Replacement. Motivated by the promise of walking pain-free in just a few days, he underwent the robot-assisted surgery. After recovering from the surgery in one of the hospital's private suites, Grimaldi was walking down the hall in no time at all.
“It's amazing to see patients walking and preparing to go home the next day,” said Kevin Smith, who provides patient navigator services at St. John’s Riverside. “I even call them at home to see how they are doing.”
To learn more about how the Westchester Orthopedic Center at St. John’s Riverside Hospital is helping Westchester County residents live pain-free lives, click here.