FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 3, 2020
CONTACT: Melissa Hodgson ABC APR | 985-898-4131 | mhodgson@stph.org

Northshore Robotics Leader Adds Mako Technology to Arsenal
St. Tammany Health System Expands Robotics Dominance to Include Orthopedic System

COVINGTON – Long established as the first robotics institute along the I-12 corridor, St. Tammany Health System has expanded its robotics capabilities with the purchase of a Stryker Mako System to perform total knee and total hip replacements.

“By adding Mako to our robotics inventory, St. Tammany is changing the way orthopedic surgeries are performed across the joint replacement service line,” said STHS Orthopedist Roch Hontas MD. “We’re providing each patient with a far more precise surgery plan based on our own decades of experience coupled with the Mako’s highly detailed imagery.”

Using a virtual 3D model, the Mako System allows surgeons to create each patient’s surgical plan pre-operatively before entering the operating room. During surgery, the surgeon can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic arm to execute that plan.

The Mako Total Knee application is a knee replacement treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan and identify the implant size, orientation and alignment based on each patient’s unique anatomy.

The Mako System also enables surgeons to virtually modify the surgical plan intraoperatively and assists the surgeon in executing bone resections.

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St. Tammany Health System is the heartbeat of its community, caring for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork; it will strengthen the health of its community with compassion, innovation and partnership and is recognized for quality, safety and the patient experience by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 is an independent service district in a clinically integrated partnership with Ochsner Health. Together, the two organizations focus on aligning their healthcare offerings to best serve patients and families in west St. Tammany and surrounding areas. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS receives no tax funding. More at stph.org.