When a joint replacement is required, positioning the implant is an extremely precise procedure. There are many different degrees of how the implant should be placed into your body. With so many degrees of freedom rotating around all axis points, finding the right position for the implant is crucial. However, statistics show that around 50% of the time, the implant is not placed where the surgeon thought it was positioned. Yet, with surgical robotic technology, surgeons get implant placement right on the money 92% of the time. As a result, the healing experience is better, faster, and far less uncomfortable.

When a surgeon is in the process of a joint replacement, what looks to the human eye like a 45-degree angle may not quite match the precise angle. Sometimes the eye doesn’t catch the difference. But with robotic technology, Dr. Pitts can accurately analyze the precise angle and make adjustments as small as a millimeter, which can make all the difference. The robotics make sure your new implant is placed with exactness.

Do you need a knee replacement? Consider how many variables there are in the human knee. It has so many angles of freedom when working properly. This makes the idea of “exactness” all the more important in a knee replacement procedure. The problem is, the implant size is based on the “average” person, whether you are 4’ 11” or 6’ 2’’. That’s a lot of room for error. To make sure the implant fits properly, a precise amount of bone has to be cut to fit the implant. But as you can imagine, there’s a big difference between the amount of bone cutting required for a shorter person as compared to a taller person.

With robotics, there is no guesswork. The technology inside the robotic device helps Dr. Pitts measure with exactness before the procedure and again during the procedure to double-check that everything is placed as perfectly as possible. This allows him the peace of mind of a “measure twice, cut once” mentality made possible only through the advanced technology of orthopedic robotics.

Since his very first robotic replacement, Dr. Pitts has never had to adjust his work after the procedure. The robotics allow him to make smaller incisions and conserve bone. In fact, the robotics won’t let him take away more bone than he’s planning to. So, if he’s being human and feeling tired one day during surgery, the robotics remove the possibility for human error. And even though he may be short on sleep, he knows the procedure will be as perfect as possible.

Dr. Pitts played on the men’s NCAA soccer team in his early college years. He and his wife Jessica have four girls who are the center of their world. After having lived all over the country, they are happy to be in Utah again. They enjoy playing soccer and spending time in the mountains together.