Former porter has first robotic knee surgery at hospital

A former porter has become the first patient to have robot-assisted knee replacement surgery at a Staffordshire hospital - going home to recover on the same day.

John Hall, 67, who had the procedure at Cannock hospital, had experienced intense pain that was affecting his day-to-day life, leaving him unable to enjoy his hobbies, such as walking.

"The patient has been back at home for about three weeks and said he could sometimes walk with no crutches", The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said.

One of the surgeons who carried out the operation, consultant trauma, sports knee and orthopaedic surgeon for the trust, Ejaz Mughal, said robotic surgery "operates to within a millimetre precision".

He added: "There is less likelihood of revisions because of this precision and less surgery trauma for patients.

"They can be in and out of hospital in the same day, recovering at home, which is where they want to be."

Hall, who had suffered a torn meniscus, said his knee issues were "getting me down because I like to keep active".

"I'm a keen walker and fisherman but I've been restricted because of the pain, and the fact cartilage was being worn away.

"I understand robotic surgery is more precise and less invasive and I wanted to get home and back to normal for my grandchildren and family."

Hall also said that on hearing he would be the first to have robotic surgery at Cannock, he "felt proud", adding it was "an opportunity to be part of something that's going to make such a difference".

Hall added that he thought "the same day return home plays a major part of recovery, not only physically but mentally too".

He explained there was always someone to phone if needed, which was "very reassuring", and the patient had received "the best aftercare".

"I have been walking since day one on crutches, now I have been advised to use one, but I can sometimes amazingly walk with none at all."

Mughal carried out the robot-assisted knee replacement with consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, Varun Dewan.

"There was real buzz around the first robotic surgery here across the whole team," Mughal said.

"This is a significant milestone, and we will keep building the service to better serve our patients."

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