Medical Milestone To Be Observed At HCMC

Paris, Tenn.–It’s not often that a surgeon and a robot attend events together. But on Wednesday, July 24, Dr. Blake Chandler and the Mako robot will commemorate a milestone and celebrate the technology that made it happen with a meet and greet in the Henry County Medical Center (HCMC) lobby from 11 am -1 pm.
 
The milestone is Chandler’s 500th robotic surgery, and the technology is the robotic arm that has revolutionized hip and knee surgery.
“It’s not often that individuals have the opportunity to see this type of equipment and watch hands-on demonstrations,” Chandler said. This event will help attendees visualize the vast difference between the robot-assisted and traditional surgery.
 
The event is being held at HCMC because “the hospital is such a vital partner. They took a bold step when they purchased this new technology back in 2015,” according to Chandler, who became one of the first surgeons in West Tennessee to offer this option.
 
The Mako robot provides surgeons with a patient-specific 3-D model to pre-plan the replacements. During surgery, Chandler guides the Stryker robotic-arm based on as patient-specific plan. This helps him focus on removal of the diseased bone and assists in positioning the implant based on the patient’s anatomy.
 
Chandler said he “looks forward to seeing former patients, individuals who have questions about robotic hip and knee surgery and others interested in this technology that creates better patient outcomes.  An affiliate of West Tennessee Bone and Joint Clinic, he sees patients in Paris and Union City.
 
The surgeon has created two videos that discuss the benefits of robotic surgery.  They may be viewed on YouTube by searching “Dr. Blake Chandler.”
 
West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic is one of the region’s most highly respected practices for orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries, sports medicine, interventional pain management, and hand injuries and disorders.
 
Individuals interested in scheduling an appointment may call (731) 644-0474 or toll free at (866) 470-2663 to discover if robotic hip or knee surgery is appropriate for them.