A patient has become the 100th person to have a robotic-arm assisted arthroplasty at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.
Sixty-one-year-old Rhona Johnston from Winson Green underwent a left knee replacement, which was carried out using a Stryker Mako robot.
She said: “I was asked if I was happy to have robotic-arm assisted surgery and I was more than happy, as I think the more experience surgeons can get with new techniques the better.
“The atmosphere was quite relaxed when I came in and the care in the hospital has been fantastic.
“Since the surgery, I’ve had a lot less pain and I’m already able to get around a lot easier.”
The major milestone was reached after theatre teams at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, led by Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedics Surgeon Vishal Paringe, successfully carried out five robotic-arm assisted joint replacements in one day.
He said: “Yesterday we performed five knee replacements using Mako technology, culminating in the 100th patient to be operated on using the robotic arm.
“I’m very proud to be part of this trauma and orthopaedics team who have worked hard to deliver innovative care to so many patients.
“It has been a fantastic team effort, and we look forward to continuing our success with robotic-arm assisted surgeries in the future.”
The state-of-the-art technology has been used at the Trust since early 2025 and can lead to faster recovery times and better mobility for patients, as well as reducing the chance of patients needing further surgery in the future.
Pradip Karanjit, Interim Divisional Director of Operations said: “This achievement reflects not only surgical excellence, but also the dedication, collaboration, and expertise of the entire multidisciplinary team, from theatre staff and anaesthetics to nursing, physiotherapy, and clinical support teams.
“Congratulations to everyone involved in making this significant milestone possible.”