Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Republican Specialised Scientific and Practical Medical Centre for Traumatology and Orthopaedics has performed its first hip replacement surgery using an artificial intelligence-powered robotic assistant. The operation was streamed live to medical professionals across all regions of the country, Uzbekistan 24 television reported.
Before surgery, the robotic assistant analyses the patient’s computed tomography (CT) scans and creates a virtual surgical plan. During the procedure, it performs precise movements that are difficult for a human hand to achieve. In cases involving severe hip joint deformities, the success of the operation depends on positioning the prosthesis at the correct angle.
Dilshod Shamsimetov, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon with a PhD in medical sciences, said the robotic technology enables more precise selection and placement of the prosthesis, reduces the risk of complications and allows rehabilitation to begin sooner.
Foreign specialists also took part in the operations. Xu Peng, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon from China, said robotic procedures offer high precision, are completed more quickly and rarely lead to complications. He added that the Chinese side was ready to share its experience in using the new technologies.
Russian trauma and orthopaedic surgeon Evgeny Melchenko performed surgery to correct a congenital hip dislocation in children with a genetic disorder. He said the operation was successful and proceeded according to plan.
Shukhrat Usmonov, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon with a PhD in medical sciences, said the centre was carrying out more than 40 surgical procedures with the participation of medical specialists from Russia, China, South Korea, India and European countries.
The live broadcasts allowed doctors in regional facilities to observe every stage of the procedures and discuss the techniques without travelling to the capital.
One patient said she had suffered from joint pain for 12 years. She said news that her operation would involve a robot initially frightened her, but the procedure took place without any discomfort.
The centre plans to introduce robot-assisted surgeries at its regional branches in the future.
