Forest Hills Hospital Gets Robot For Orthopedic Surgeries

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A new robot at Forest Hills's hospital will lend a hand to doctors during knee and hip replacement surgeries for a more precise procedure.

Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills got their hands on a Mako robot, which will help doctors have a more precise fit for the new knee and hip implants during surgery.

“The robot assists with the surgery, but the robot does not do the surgery,” said Richard Seldes, an orthopedic surgeon and director of orthopedic surgery at LIJ Forest Hills. “The robot plans out the cuts for the surgeon, but the surgeon has the ultimate say in what’s being cut and how it’s being done.”

The hospital acquired the robot assistant through a $1 million federal grant secured by Rep. Grace Meng, who represents Forest Hills.

Surgery patients undergo a CT scan of their knee prior to the procedure, during which anatomical information is uploaded to the robotic software.

The system then maps out a customized 3D surgical plan to identify which part of the patient’s bone is diseased and which is healthy.

During surgery, the surgeon uses the robotic arm of the robot to make precise bone cuts, sparing surrounding healthy tissue and bone for an exact fit during the knee and hip implant.

Hospital officials said the robotic-assisted surgery can extend the life of the new knee, which typically lasts 15 to 20 years, compared to a typical surgery.

“People deserve to have a facility in or close to their neighborhood where they can receive state-of-the-art care for hip and knee replacements, and the Mako robot will ensure that local residents no longer have to travel far distances to take advantage of this technology,” said Rep. Meng.