When Carolyn arrived at Hamilton General Hospital for knee surgery earlier this year, she didn’t realize she was about to make history.
She was the first patient at the hospital to receive surgery with the new, donor-funded robotic arm.
The state-of-the-art robotic arm technology is used for joint replacement procedures, offering unmatched precision and accuracy. For patients like Carolyn, who required a partial knee replacement, this kind of donor-funded equipment makes a world of difference.
Carolyn’s knee pain had been worsening for a couple of years, and by early 2024, it was severely impacting her life. An avid gardener and active grandparent, she found herself sidelined. “I’m very hands-on in our business,” she explains. “My husband and I work together in design and build, and the pain really limited me last year.”
After a referral to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dale Williams, Carolyn was diagnosed with severe arthritis localized to one side of her left knee. That made her an ideal candidate for a half-knee replacement, and for the newly donated robotic arm system.
While robotic-assisted surgery might seem intimidating, Carolyn says her confidence in Dr. Williams helped put her at ease. Her concern about having the robotic arm involved in her surgery was “only a fleeting thought; a millisecond of doubt,” says Carolyn. “Then it just made heaps of sense. It was a phenomenal opportunity that I was looking forward to.”
And the benefits are clear. The robotic arm uses detailed imaging to map out a surgical plan with incredible accuracy. This allows for smaller incisions, preservation of healthy tissue and ligaments and more consistent results. For Carolyn, that meant a smoother procedure and a remarkably fast recovery.
“Four days post-surgery, I was already seeing my physiotherapist, and she said that the bend in my knee was where she usually expect patients to be weeks later,” she says. By seven weeks post-op Carolyn was back to normal.
Carolyn credits the expertise of Dr. Williams, the support of her care team, and the advanced technology made possible by donors. “I’m the beneficiary of someone’s generosity, and my gratefulness is immense,” she says. “It’s so worthwhile to support the hospital if that’s something you have the means to do. Helping others is such a wonderful gift.”
Thanks to donor-funded innovations like the robotic arm, patients like Carolyn can regain mobility, reduce recovery time and get back to living life on their terms. Hamilton General Hospital is a regional leader in orthopedic surgery, offering patients access to cutting-edge tools and expert care teams who are pushing the boundaries of what recovery can look like. None of this would be possible without the generosity of donors who continue to invest in the latest medical technology and help bring world-class care closer to home.