Kansas City, Kan- Joyce Zerger, a 92-year-old woman, underwent robotic double knee replacement surgery at the University of Kansas Health System.

Her severe knee pain and deformity had limited her mobility, but the surgery allowed her to walk pain-free and return to her active lifestyle.

Dr. Aneel Jiwanlal, her surgeon, explained the procedure, which uses a robot to create a 3D image and guide the surgery.

The program, which started in 2005, has grown from two surgeons to 40, performing over 20,000 surgeries.

The recovery process is detailed, with most patients experiencing minimal pain and quicker recovery times compared to traditional methods.

Joyce Zerger, patient

• Joyce and her family express gratitude for Dr. Jiwanlal’s expertise and the positive impact on her quality of life.
• She experiences a remarkable transformation, able to walk and stand without pain and she no longer uses a walker.

Shelly Zerger, daughter in law

• Shelly expresses her gratitude for the surgery and the positive impact on their lives, encouraging others to never give up hope.
• She explains without the surgery the family was considering a nursing home for Joyce and realized a wheelchair was the next step.

Dr. Aneel Jiwanlal, Orthopedic Surgeon, The University of Kansas Health System

• Dr. Jiwanlal explains the recovery process for knee replacement surgery, noting it can take several months.
• He explains the indications for knee replacement surgery, focusing on the severity of disease and failure of nonoperative treatment.
• Dr. Jiwanlal describes the robotic knee replacement procedure, using a robot to create a three-dimensional image of the knee and execute the surgical plan.

Dr Moben Mirza, Urologic Oncologist, The University of Kansas Health System

• Dr. Mirza highlights the importance of training and expertise in robotic surgery, ensuring high-quality patient outcomes.
• He explains the use of single-port robots in ENT and urology procedures, including radical tonsillectomies and kidney and bladder surgeries.

Erin Raple, Robotic Nurse Coordinator, The University of Kansas Health System

• Erin explains the program has performed over 2000 robotic procedures annually, with a significant number of surgeries.
• She explains how nurses vote to name the surgery robots. Many have been named after transformers.

Monday, May 12th is the next Morning Medical Update:

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