Retired Burnaby firefighter Jeff Clark spent years responding to emergencies and helping others. Decades of repeated use took a toll on his knees and when he needed surgery, Burnaby Hospital was there for him.
“Having both my knees replaced gave me the ability to enjoy my retirement with better mobility and less pain,” says Jeff.
To provide the best surgical care for patients like Jeff, Burnaby Hospital Foundation and Fraser Health are partnering on a new $2.3 million robotic-assisted surgical system for the Jim Pattison Surgery Centre at Burnaby Hospital. The Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted System — the first of its kind in Western Canada — allows surgical teams to perform hip and knee replacement surgery with greater precision and accuracy.
“Burnaby Hospital Foundation is excited to lead the charge by fully funding the addition of the Mako system,” says Steven McKoen, board chair, Burnaby Hospital Foundation. “Robotic-assisted surgery will be a game changer for the way orthopedic surgeries are performed at Burnaby Hospital. We are grateful to our donors who give so generously to fund advancements in health care in our community.”
“Having the latest tools helps health care teams provide exceptional care to the residents of our province,” says Health Minister Adrian Dix. “We deeply appreciate the generosity and dedication of Burnaby Hospital Foundation to strengthen our health system with leading robotic technology.”
“Being a Burnaby resident for over 35 years, I am grateful that this cutting-edge technology will further enhance patient outcomes for our community. I thank Burnaby Hospital Foundation and Fraser Health for collaborating to improve surgical care for those in need when they need it the most,” said Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake and Minister of Municipal Affairs.
The new system uses CT imaging to create a 3D image of the joint, allowing surgeons to make a customized plan based on their patient’s anatomy. A surgeon guides the robotic arm during surgery, adjusting as necessary, based on visual and audio cues from the arm’s software. At all times, the surgeon, not the robotic arm, is controlling the operation.
“The addition of this new robotic-assisted surgical system at Burnaby Hospital leverages groundbreaking advances in technology to equip our world-class care providers with innovative tools to support our patients,” says Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO, Fraser Health. “This state-of the-art equipment will help ensure our patients are able to return home to their families and the activities they love as quickly as possible, while also helping us attract top health care professionals to the region.”
“The robotic-assisted system will improve our precision and safety in total joint replacement,” says Dr. Tim Kostamo, division head, Orthopedics, Burnaby Hospital, and Burnaby Hospital Foundation Board Member. “I’m excited to see how it helps us decrease complications and revisions and continue our quest for great outcomes for our patients.”
Medical teams are currently training with the new system and the first surgeries are expected in the coming weeks.
Burnaby Hospital is a centre of excellence in orthopedic surgery and performs up to 1,000 total hip and knee surgeries every year, the most in the Fraser Health region. Innovation has taken many forms in the surgery department, providing solutions to navigate challenges like tight quarters in the operating room and limited bed spaces for recovery. These are some of the issues being addressed by the hospital’s redevelopment, which the Foundation is supporting. The new Jim Pattison Surgery Centre, part of phase one of the redevelopment, is scheduled to complete in 2025.
Burnaby Hospital Foundation is fully funding the $2.3 million Mako system and its support, as well as contributing $30 million towards phase one of the hospital’s redevelopment. This funding is possible due to the generosity of over 10,000 donors who support the Foundation’s mission to advance health care in their community.
“I’m grateful to have had my knee replacement in my home community at a hospital I am familiar with,” adds Jeff Clark. “It’s incredibly heartwarming for me as a patient and donor to Burnaby Hospital Foundation to see how our community is able to push forward high-tech advancements in our hospital.”