Cyprus’s public health system has taken on robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgery for the first time, with the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) installing the CORI Robotic-Assisted Surgery system by Smith+Nephew at Nicosia General Hospital.
The system, now operational at the hospital’s Orthopaedic Clinic, enables robotic-assisted unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasty, revision knee surgery, and hip arthroplasty within the public health system. The SHSO said the development means patients can access specialised, high-precision surgical care in Cyprus without the need to travel abroad.
Robotic-assisted orthopaedic surgery has become established internationally as a core surgical tool, offering increased precision, individualised surgical planning, and improved functional outcomes, the organisation said.
The CORI system maps anatomy in real time without requiring a pre-operative CT or MRI scan. A digital model is created within the operating theatre, reducing radiation exposure and speeding up preparation. The system also enables dynamic assessment of ligament stability and balance, and allows virtual implant placement before bone resections are made.
The SHSO described the approach as a shift from standardised to individualised surgery. “The philosophy of the method is based on the transition from a standardised to an individualised surgical approach, using sensors, motion recording systems, and real-time digital planning,” it said, noting that the surgeon can evaluate joint function intraoperatively and adjust bone resections and implant placement with precision.
The organisation stressed that the surgeon remains central throughout. “The orthopaedic surgeon remains at the centre of the process, designing and determining the individualised surgical plan, which is executed with robotic assistance, ensuring a high degree of precision and safety,” it said.
For patients, the SHSO listed the benefits as increased implant placement accuracy, better joint alignment and stability, a reduced risk of revision surgery, faster recovery, improved functionality, and access to advanced technology within the public health system.
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