São Paulo, Brazil, 09 January 2025 – The SkyWalker® Orthopedic Surgical Robot (SkyWalker®), developed by MicroPort® MedBot™, recently completed its first total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at Vera Cruz Hospital, Brazil. This landmark procedure represents a significant milestone in SkyWalker®’s commercial breakthrough in the South American market.
Dr. Guilherme Gracitelli, who performed the surgery, highlighted that the introduction of this innovative technology enhances the safety and precision of TKA procedures, reinforcing Vera Cruz Hospital’s leadership in orthopedic surgeries.
The surgery proceeded seamlessly, with SkyWalker® demonstrating its advanced capabilities. Guided by precise preoperative planning, the robotic arm conducted bone registration using a probe, aligned itself to the planned coordinates, and then performed precise osteotomies using its integrated cutting tool. The procedure avoided the use of intramedullary rods, significantly reducing blood loss, surgical trauma, and the risk of postoperative complications.
Postoperative evaluations confirmed that the actual osteotomy and limb alignment perfectly matched the preoperative plan. This precision reduces the risk of complications, such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) , leading to faster patient recovery times and improved outcomes.
SkyWalker® has earned widespread recognition for its clinical performance. To date, it has been utilized in over 1,500 TKA surgeries across more than 10 countries.
This milestone surgery also marked the first commercial application of SkyWalker® alongside the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee System by MicroPort® Orthopedics in Brazil. The combination of these two advanced technologies aims to enhance patient outcomes and overall satisfaction through kinematics-focused clinical solutions.
SkyWalker® provides surgeons with advanced tools for preoperative planning and intraoperative precision, while the Evolution® system addresses challenges such as instability and pain, with clinical studies reporting a satisfaction rate of over 95% among Evolution® patients.
Dr. Guilherme Gracitelli praised the pairing as a “perfect match,” noting that the integration streamlines workflow and improves surgical outcomes, delivering tailored and precise solutions that ultimately benefit patients.
Yu Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of MicroPort® MedBot™, stated, “The successful completion of SkyWalker®’s first commercial TKA in Brazil is a landmark achievement, making its presence across all five continents. We are excited to bring this cutting-edge technology to more patients worldwide.”
About MicroPort® MedBot™
Commenced its development for laparoscopic surgery robots in 2014, and officially established in Shanghai in 2015, Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd. ("MicroPort® MedBot™", stock code: 02252.HK), a subsidiary of MicroPort Scientific Corporation ("MicroPort®", stock code: 00853.HK), is currently the only surgical robot company in the world with businesses covering five promising subsectors of surgical robots, including endoscopy, orthopedics, vascular intervention, natural orifice surgery, and percutaneous puncture. At MicroPort® MedBot™, we are committed to meeting the growing demand for cutting-edge robotic surgery. By integrating advanced research on robotics, control algorithms, image-based navigation, and precision imaging, we provide comprehensive intelligent surgical solutions to prolong and reshape the lives of patients, lead the advancement of robotic surgery, and shape the era of intelligent surgery.
More information is available at: www.medbotsurgical.com/en