South African province records first robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery
A district hospital in Limpopo, a small town in the northern parts of South Africa has recorded its first robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery.
South African surgeon, Professor Steve Matshidze on October 29, successfully led a team of local doctors to perform the first robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery at the Botlokwa level one rural district hospital.
A member of the health executive council in Limpopo Dr Phophi Ramathuba said to local news media Tzaneen Voice that, ‘’Robot-assisted orthopaedic surgery is a significant step forward in reducing surgical backlogs and improving the quality of healthcare services in rural communities. The utilization of robotics enhances surgical precision, minimizes recovery times, and mitigates risks for patients. This achievement at Botlokwa Hospital is a testament to the dedication and innovative spirit of our healthcare professionals, and we anticipate further remarkable developments in the near future.”
’’We have done it taken rural health matters to another level. Our first Robotic knee replacement surgery in Limpopo was successfully performed today at Botlokwa level one rural district hospital Thank you Prof Matshidze and the entire team. A real honour to Mme Charlotte Maxenge,’’ she said in a post on social media.
South Africa has been at the forefront of Africa when it comes to the use of robot technology in the medical field. Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town two years ago became the first public-sector hospital in Africa to offer robotic-assisted surgery and just last year, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town became the first hospital on the continent to establish a cardiothoracic robotic-assisted surgery programme.
However, robotic-assisted surgery is not widely available across all African countries due to certain factors like cost and infrastructure limitations.
