SMH Unveils the ROSA Knee Robot

Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) welcomed a new member to its orthopedic surgery team today:  ROSA the knee robot. ROSA, which stands for Robotic Surgical Assistant, adds another layer of technical expertise to the health system’s growing robotics program.

With ROSA by their side, SMH’s leading orthopedic surgeons Edward Stolarski, MD, and Sean Dingle, MD, performed two robotic total knee-replacement cases and were working on a third in separate procedures today. The patients – a 66-year-old North Port man, 72-year-old Englewood man and 73-year-old Venice woman – all came to SMH with debilitating pain from degenerative knee disease. Using ROSA’s computerized algorithm, the patients received a new, precisely formulated and placed joint designed to promote natural joint movement and eliminate their grinding bone-on-bone pain. 

Drs. Stolarski and Dingle used ROSA’s specialized 3D imaging software to create a custom surgical plan based on their patients’ unique anatomies and conduct virtual knee replacements ahead of the surgeries. The computerized platform provides real-time intraoperative data to help surgeons assess the bones and soft tissues of the knee during the procedure, and with guidance from ROSA, precisely cut and position the new knee for optimal performance, flexibility and longevity. 

“ROSA combines previous technologies in a versatile new platform that complements each surgeon’s clinical expertise and decision-making with the latest computer-aided tools and technology to achieve the best outcomes for our patients,” said Dr. Stolarski, who serves as medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s Orthopedic Surgery division.

“ROSA does not perform the actual surgery, but the robotic interface offers an additional layer of intelligence and information that has the potential to influence our surgical decisions and patient outcomes,” said Dr. Dingle.

Manufactured by Zimmer Biomet, the ROSA knee robot won FDA clearance in January and has since been acquired by about 30 hospitals with high-volume orthopedic programs in the United States. Sarasota Memorial’s orthopedic surgery team, recognized among the nation’s highest performers for knee and hip replacement, is the second in Florida to complete training and begin using ROSA in the operating room.