In the News
An Innovator in Joint Replacement
Published: September 10, 2021
Hodrick Utilizes Robotics, Safer Pain Options for Better Outcomes
Jeffrey Hodrick, MD, is creating new standards in orthopaedic care. Through innovation in robotics and post-surgical treatment, the joint replacement surgeon is improving outcomes with less risk of opioid addiction during recovery.
Intro to Ortho
Originally from Pennsylvania, Hodrick received his bachelor's degree from Duke University, where he served as captain of the Blue Devils football team. It was there he'd meet his greatest professional influence: a team doctor who spotted Hodrick's potential early on.
"I was taking an anatomy lab and he told me, 'Son, you're going to be an orthopaedic surgeon.' I didn't know what that was but told him I'd love to know more about that," Hodrick recalled.
He went on to attend Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at Duke University Medical Center, where he received the Duke University Health System Strength, Hope, and Caring Award in 2006. To further enhance his skills, Hodrick completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
Robotics Delivering Innovation, Better Outcomes in Joint Replacement at TriStar Centennial
Robotics has revolutionized surgery in 2021, with few specialties impacted quite like orthopaedics. More than two decades since the first robotic-assisted surgery, joint replacement surgeons have embraced the latest techniques delivering unprecedented precision and improved patient outcomes – often in an outpatient setting.
Changing the Paradigm Despite robotics’ proven track record, Jeffrey Hodrick, MD, orthopaedic surgeon at TriStar Centennial’s Advanced Joint Replacement Institute, said patients are still sometimes hesitant about robotics in the operating room. “While this is semi-automated, where I control the robotic arm, there is still some misunderstanding around what the robot does,” he explained. “I see the robotic arm as an extension of me, and the robot makes me a better surgeon.” Hodrick tells patients the robot allows him to plan and perform the surgery at a level of precision that has never been available before. “While the robot helps eliminate outliers, it does more. It allows me to focus on the most important aspect of knee replacement: balance,” he said.
Robotic-arm assisted TKA: A growing and promising technology
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a highly effective treatment for endstage degenerative joint disease and has helped patients regain functional mobility with reduced pain and improved quality of life. Every year, almost 700,000 primary TKA procedures are performed in the US.1 This number is expected to grow to 3.48 million procedures by 2030—an increase of more than 600%.
Dr. Hodrick currently uses the Mako Total Knee and Partial Knee applications for every single knee he performs. He have been using the applications for close to 2 years in my practice. He believe the application makes him better.
