FRIDLEY, Minn. (Dec. 21, 2021) — Allina Health’s third orthopedic robot is now in use at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus’ Joint Replacement Center. The CORI Surgical System by Smith+Nephew provides cutting-edge technology for hip and knee joint replacements. The CORI Surgical System joins two Stryker Mako surgical orthopedic robots already in use at the Allina Health WestHealth Surgery Center in Plymouth, Minnesota, and Allina Health’s Buffalo Hospital.
“This new surgical robot is another innovative tool that advances our joint replacement surgery services and helps our patients get back to their normal life faster and have a quality of life that is much improved from what they've been suffering from,” said Dr. Kevin Lindgren, Allina Health Orthopedics surgeon. “Studies on robot-assisted surgical procedures show quicker recoveries because they are less invasive, cause less soft tissue injury, and generally lead to an easier recovery than traditional manual joint replacement surgeries.”
Dr. Lindgren performed the first joint replacement with the CORI surgical robot on November 4 at Mercy Hospital – Unity Campus’ Joint Replacement Center. Since then, he’s performed more than a dozen more joint replacements with the device. In many cases, joint replacement surgeries are same day procedures.
“Robot-assisted joint replacement surgeries enable us to provide patients with a surgical procedure that allows them to recover in the comfort of their own home very safely and have a great outcome,” Lindgren said.
Allina Health chose to add the CORI Surgical System by Smith+Nephew to its line-up of orthopedic surgical robots specifically to not commit to one platform or the other.
“Our goals is to give surgeons an opportunity to explore the technology, determine how best it serves their needs and needs of their patients and then help support the expansion of their surgical options,” said Dr. Christopher Macomber, chairman of the Allina Health Robotics Committee. “That way surgeons and clinically driven processes help to inform Allina Health for future decisions and ensure we are offering the best technology and outcomes to our patients.”
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A nonprofit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 14 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.