Kazakhstan advances robotic surgery

Robotic technologies and artificial intelligence are increasingly being used in orthopedics in Kazakhstan. Since the beginning of the year, around 50 knee and hip replacement surgeries have been performed using the Mako system at the Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration. The system allows surgeons to model the procedure in advance based on each patient’s anatomy. Before surgery, the patient undergoes a CT scan, which is used to create a personalized 3D model of the joint. The system then analyzes the data and automatically calculates the implant parameters, allowing the surgeon to plan the procedure in advance. However, the robot does not replace the doctor – all final decisions and control over the procedure remain with the surgeon. This approach makes joint replacement surgery more personalized and helps minimize damage to surrounding tissue. 

«What is the advantage of this method? It determines cuts and resections, down to the millimeter, and helps position the implant with the precision calculated by the robotic system. At the same time, the human element remains essential: the surgeon adjusts the data and monitors the procedure during both the resection and implant placement. By applying this technology, we can position the implant with precise geometric alignment,» said Anuarbek Kulcharov, an orthopedic traumatologist at the Medical Center Hospital of the President’s Affairs Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Another benefit of robotic surgery is a shorter recovery period. According to specialists, rehabilitation after such procedures takes one to three months, compared to up to six months in the past. Furthermore, mobilization begins almost immediately, with patients moving within the first few days post-surgery.

«Today is my second day here, and I’m undergoing rehabilitation. I didn’t expect to be able to move my legs today, but everything has been going really well. It’s an excellent hospital, and the staff is amazing. The attention I’ve received has been exceptional from the very beginning, starting with the surgery. The trauma surgeons and the entire medical team have been fantastic,» said Gulnar Shayakhmetova, a patient.

Web-editor: Berekekyzy Aiym