HOSPITAL NEWS
Linacre Private Hospital introduces cutting edge
medical technology for orthopaedic patients
Orthopaedic surgeons at Linacre Private Hospital now have access to the NAVIO robotic knee replacement system – an innovative hand-held robotic surgical device.
When teamed with a surgeon’s skilled hand, the system
enables pinpoint accuracy during total knee arthroplasty
and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
The NAVIO mitigates the challenges of traditional methods of
knee surgery, and simplifies the surgical process without the
extra steps required with existing robotic-assisted technology.
New cancer surgeon offers extra help for women in Cairns
Cairns women now have regular access to a gynaecological cancer surgeon for the first time in the region.
Gynaecological oncologist Dr Helen Green has started
regular planned visits to Cairns Private Hospital, in
a move to increase gynaecological services in Far
North Queensland.
Dr Green specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of
women with cancer or precancerous conditions and is
committed to improving access of gynaecological cancer
care to rural and regional women.
Her regular service will include monthly subspecialty visits
to the hospital and telehealth appointments for her patients
at all other times.
Previously, there was a shortage of gynaecological cancer
care in the region, with only a visiting service in Townsville
once a month, which meant women in Cairns were required
to travel to South East Queensland for treatment.
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For instance, a CT scan is not needed – the device maps a
patient’s knee in real-time as a 3D model, allowing virtual
placement of the implant to predict postoperative joint laxity.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Chris Jones said: “The robot is
instrumental in assisting total knee replacement component
alignment and we are consistently seeing improved post-operative
function and reliably improved early knee range
of motion following total knee replacement.”
Linacre patients can benefit from shorter surgery times, less
pain, a more rapid recovery and improved knee mechanics
post-surgery.
Port Macquarie Private Hospital hosts world-leading
endoscopist
Port Macquarie Private Hospital has hosted a Japanese interventional endoscopist, who visited from
Kobe University Hospital.
Professor Takashi Toyonaga is an internationally renowned
expert in the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of
gastrointestinal tract cancers, particularly endoscopic
submucosal dissection (ESD).
During his visit to Port Macquarie Private Hospital, Professor
Toyonaga gave a presentation about the advances in
ESD and the current Japanese experience. The visit was
coordinated by Port Macquarie Gastroenterology.
Sue Myers from CNS Endoscopy, gastroenterologist
Dr Stuart Kostalas, Professor Takashi Toyonaga, registered nurse
Sharon Lutherborrow, gastroenterologist Dr Praka Sundaralingam,
anaesthetist Dr Kishore Sanghi, gastroenterologist
Dr Milan Bassan (visiting from Liverpool).
Dr Green understands the benefits of local care which
is important in the physical and emotional recovery of
women with gynaecological cancer.
Cairns Private Hospital CEO Ben Tooth said:
“I’m extremely supportive of the increased specialised
services to the region for patients who otherwise
would have to travel to receive this care.
Cairns women will have access to complex
gynaecological surgery and other surgical
treatments through Dr Green, which will
complete the Multidisciplinary Team at
Cairns Private Hospital.