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Robotic Surgery

At St. Mary's, we are committed to providing you with safe, high-quality surgical care. Our highly experienced team handles everything from simple outpatient procedures to total joint replacements to complex neurosurgical procedures in the brain and spine.

All three St. Mary's hospitals provide traditional and minimally invasive surgical systems delivered by highly experienced surgeons and teams. In addition, St. Mary's Hospital in Athens also offers three surgical robots – our region’s most comprehensive range of robotic surgical services.

Robotic Surgery

St. Mary’s is the region's leader in robotic minimally invasive surgery, with three state-of-the-art robotic systems to assist surgeons in providing high quality care for our patients. Robotic surgery is ideal for many patients. Even highly complex and delicate procedures can be performed through very small incisions with unmatched precision. Benefits may include:

  • Less pain
  • Less blood loss
  • Less scarring
  • Less time in the operating room
  • Shorter overall hospitalization
  • A faster return to normal daily activities
  • And in many cases, better clinical outcomes

Globus ExcelsiusGPS

St. Mary's Globus robot allows for ultra-precise placement of surgical screws in spinal fusion procedures. These procedures aim to stabilize the spine, reduce chronic pain, improve function and quality of life, and slow the progress of spinal degeneration.

Using low-dose CT scanning to plan the procedure and to guide placement during the procedure, the system increases accuracy while decreasing blood loss, the size of incisions, and overall x-ray exposure. St. Mary's uses the Globus robot for:

  • Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
  • Lateral lumbar interbody fusion
  • Posterior lumbar fusion

daVinci Xi Surgical System

In 2010, St. Mary's introduced robotic surgery to Northeast Georgia with the daVinci Si system. Now upgraded to the state-of-the-art Xi system, our daVinci robot provides surgeons with:

  • Access to surgical site through tiny “ports” instead of a long incision
  • Better visualization of the tissues and structures inside the body
  • Crisp, high-resolution, and magnified 3-D vision
  • Greater flexibility than the human wrist and hand
  • ltra-precise instruments that "step-down" movements of the surgeon's hands
  • Seated position for the surgeon in the procedure room to reduce fatigue and enhance safety
  • General Surgery - Inguinal hernia repair, Paraesophageal hernia repair, Sigmoid colectomy, Ventral hernia repair
  • Thoracic Surgery - Lobectomy, Resection of mediastinal mass
  • Urology Surgery - Radical prostatectomy, Sacroculpopexy

Mako SmartRobotics by Stryker

St. Mary's Mako system uses 3D CT-based planning software to create a personalized surgical plan. This plan is tailored to the specifics of the patient’s unique anatomy. Using the plan and the Mako’s ultra-precise surgical instruments, the surgeon potentially can limit soft-tissue impact and protect healthy bone.

Studies show Mako patients typically experience less pain, shorter hospital stays and less need for inpatient physical therapy compared to patients undergoing traditional procedures. St. Mary's uses the Mako robot for:

  • Total hip replacement
  • Total knee replacement

Robotic surgery may not be appropriate for all patients. Talk to your doctor about the options most appropriate for you and your individual condition, needs and goals.

Orthopedics

Orthopedics

St. Mary’s conducts more than 1,500 inpatient surgeries and 1,000 total joint procedures each year.

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Patient Information

Patient Information

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Care After Discharge

After Your Stay

We're here to help patients who need additional treatment or care after discharge from the hospital.

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