Our trauma and orthopaedics team have carried out their 100^th robotic joint replacement. Catherine O’Brien-Passfield, 60, had a total joint replacement in her right knee on Monday 19 December.

Going home just two days later, she was able to enjoy Christmas with her family, including husband Charlie, her grown-up son and two daughters, and granddaughter Penny, six (pictured with her below).

Catherine, fitness manager at the Harrow Lodge Everyone Active Leisure Centre, where she has worked for over 30 years, said: “When I was offered the chance to have it just before Christmas I leapt at it, and I was excited to be the 100^th patient.

“It was really interesting to have robotic surgery and very impressive. I was awake and remember talking to the surgeon, then nothing at all! The staff were amazing and I was mostly mobile from the next day. I’m hoping this knee replacement will give me a whole new lease of life and help me get back to my best.”

Catherine, of Harold Hill, spent 35 years teaching up to 30 fitness classes a week, which, along with two accidents, took its toll on her joints. She discovered a love of cycling when lockdown meant she couldn’t work, completing a 100mile cycle for the Anthony Nolan charity (pictured below). However, last year she developed rheumatoid arthritis which caused her so much pain she could barely walk or stand.

She added: “When I got sick I couldn’t train – the last time I rode a bike was this time last year. I’m really keen to get back to cycling.

“I need another knee replacement, which I hope to have this year. This process has been interesting for me as I do a lot of rehab work with people, including with stroke patients. I know everyone’s normal is different and now, I really can walk the walk.”

We’re one of just seven hospitals in the country to have a Mako surgical robot, specifically for carrying out hip and knee replacements. The first operation was carried out in July 2021.

Consultant Shivakumar Shankar, who has completed a postgraduate diploma in computer and robot assisted orthopaedic surgery, carried out Catherine’s operation. He said: “I’m one of five consultants in the team who do robotic surgery, and it was really nice to be the one to operate on the 100^th patient.

“Robotic assisted surgery allows us as surgeons to be more accurate, with one of the benefits being the implants last longer. Most importantly, it reduces recovery time for patients. We started using computer navigation in the department to assist surgery ten years ago, then introduced robotic surgery last year. It’s a really exciting area and we are also offering it as further training opportunity for our trainee surgeons.”

We also have two Da Vinci surgical robots at our Trust used for colorectal, upper gastrointestinal tract, gynaecology and urology procedures. The 100^th colorectal procedure was carried out last May.