Photo Provided SHOWN HERE is the new Zimmer Biomet ROSA Knee System being used at East Ohio Regional Hospital by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mante Marra.

MARTINS FERRY — East Ohio Regional Hospital is now using robotic technology to perform knee surgeries.

Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA Knee System will assist surgeons in doing total knee replacements.

“Data provided by ROSA Knee assists with complex decision-making and enables surgeons to use computer and software technology to control and move surgical instruments, allowing for greater precision and flexibility during procedures,” according to information provided by spokesman Michael Garrison.

EORH’s team is led by Dr. Dante Marra, an orthopedic surgeon.

“This is just another example of our efforts to provide top-level care for our patients so that they can keep their health care local rather than making a two-hour drive for a knee replacement,” said EORH Chief Operating Officer Bernie Albertini. “We are also very fortunate to have a skilled orthopedic surgeon like Dr. Dante Marra who is leading the way in this area for our patients. We know the decision to have joint replacement is often a difficult one for patients to make, and we believe these robotically-assisted technologies have the potential to make it an easier one moving forward.”

According to information from Zimmer Biomet, the ROSA Knee is similar to traditional knee surgeries, but the surgeon has received special training to use it. Each patient’s knee anatomy is assessed in order to create a specialized surgical approach.

“It’s important to understand that the robot does not operate on its own. That means it does not move unless your surgeon prompts it to. Your surgeon is still in the operating room the entire time and is making all of the decisions throughout your surgery,” the company notes.

“During your procedure, ROSA Knee utilizes a camera and optical trackers attached to your leg to know exactly where your knee is in space. Think of it like a very detailed global positioning system that you might use in your car. If your leg moves even a fraction of an inch, the robot can tell and adjusts accordingly. This helps ensure that the plan your surgeon put into place is executed as intended.”

The company also notes that sometimes a series of X-rays is taken to create a 3-D model of one’s knee.