Technological Advances

Smart Implants

What is a Smart Implant?

The concept of “smart implants” for joint replacement has been discussed for many years. The goal of these devices is to allow surgeons to monitor a patient’s recovery and assess the health of their joint replacement without the need for invasive testing or as many follow up appointments. Recently these ideas have become a reality with the introduction of Zimmer Biomet’s revolutionary Persona IQ system. Persona IQ is the worlds first smart knee replacement. Built into the implant itself, Persona IQ can assess your range of motion, walking speed and collect other data allowing your surgeon to remotely monitor your recovery.

What are the Benefits of Smart Implants?

After undergoing a total joint replacement, the most important job your surgeon has is to make sure that you recover appropriately and to identify any complications that may occur as early as possible so that they can be addressed before they become a bigger problem. This can be challenging in a rural state like Wyoming, especially during our winters when road closures and weather make travel difficult.

Smart implants provide a way for your surgeon to directly monitor your implants from afar. The Persona IQ system detects movement and can calculate your range of motion, gait patterns and overall activity levels. This can be used to ensure that you are recovering appropriately and to identify changes in your movement that need to be evaluated in person, even years down the road.

NOTE: These smart implants CANNOT track your location and CANNOT collect any audio. They can only detect and analyze movement data from within the implant itself. You can also STOP sharing this data at any time.

How Can I Get a Smart Implant?

Dr. Horberg is proud to announce that you can get a smart total joint right here in Wyoming. He performed the first smart joint replacement in the state of Wyoming on 3/9/2023 at the Premier Bone & Joint Centers in Laramie and is partnered with Zimmer Biomet to bring these cutting edge devices to patients from across the state. Ask Dr. Horberg and his team if a smart total joint is right for you!

ZimmerBiomet Persona IQ Smart Total Knee

Getting Started with Persona IQ

Robotic Surgery

What is Robotic Surgery?

Robotic technology is one of many tools that can be used to help a surgeon perform a joint replacement. There are different kinds of surgical robots that use X-Rays, CT scans, intra-operative references and other measurement techniques to ensure the implants are positioned accurately. In some cases a robotic arm will be used to hold the limb still, or position alignment guides and cutting blocks to help the surgeon make accurate cuts.

What are the Benefits of Robotic Surgery?

The biggest benefit of robotic surgery is accuracy. By combining pre-operative imaging, intra-operative measurements and computer planning, a surgeon can make a detailed surgical hand before making a single incision. Robotic arm technology can also hold the extremity and instruments very stably with high precision which further increase the accuracy with which components are implanted.

It is important to know that surgical robots are only tools used by your surgeon. While they are very accurate and valuable tools, your surgeon will still perform the entire operation. Nothing can replace the experience and skill of your surgeon. Robotic technology, if used correctly by a skilled surgeon, can improve the accuracy with which your components are positioned and your overall outcome.

Can my Joint Replacement Be Done Robotically?

Dr. Horberg has extensive experience with robotic surgery. He has trained residents and fellows to perform robotic joint replacement as a professor of Orthopaedics at Southern Illinois University. He also has trained other surgeons from around the country as a surgical educator.

The Premier Bone and Joint Centers are dedicated to bringing the most cutting edge Orthopaedic Care to the people of Wyoming. They proudly offer robotic joint replacement surgery with the Zimmer Biomet ROSA system. Ask Dr. Horberg and his team if a robotically assisted joint replacement is right for you!

Image Guided Surgery

What is Image Guided Surgery?

Another technique that can be used to improve the quality of your joint replacement is the use of live, intra-operative X-ray. This can include conventional images taken one at a time as well as live video “flouroscopic” X-rays. Specialized X-ray machines capable of taking still images as well as video images during surgery can be sterily draped, adjusted to take images from multiple angles and moved in and out as needed during surgery.

What are the Benefits of Image Guided Surgery?

The greatest benefit of image guided surgery is the ability to see exactly where the implant is being positioned and to make precise measurements as the components are being placed. This can allow us to match leg lengths, make more accurate cuts, and more perfectly match the size and shape of your joint. Image guidance also allows surgeons to use more minimally invasive incisions and techniques when replacing your joint without sacrificing the ability to “see” what they are doing.

Can my Joint Replacement Be Done with Image Guidance?

Dr. Horberg uses image guidance very frequently to ensure his patients have the best possible outcome. In fact, he has trained residents and fellows to utilize image guidance during joint replacement as a professor of Orthopaedics at Southern Illinois University. He also has trained other surgeons from around the country as a surgical educator.

The Premier Bone and Joint Centers are dedicated to bringing the most cutting edge Orthopaedic Care to the people of Wyoming. We are proud to announce that all the facilities Dr. Horberg operates in are equipped with surgical image guidance technology. Ask Dr. Horberg and his team if image guided joint replacement is right for you!

24/7 Communication

My Mobility Software

A successful outcome after joint replacement requires a team approach. Every patient, their family, their friends, their therapists, their primary doctor, Dr. Horberg and his team, must all work together to achieve the best possible outcome. Just like with any other team, good teamwork requires good communication.

My Mobility is a software platform that allows Dr. Horberg to be in better communication with you! This software is FREE to Dr. Horberg’s patients and has smartphone as well as desktop versions. You can also pair your application with a special apple watch ap to help monitor your activity level during recovery.

What are the Benefits of My Mobility?

My mobility is designed to help Dr. Horberg and his team to keep better track of his patients as they recover. It also helps keep you informed and up to date with your recovery. Some key features include:

  • Secure Messaging: you can securely message Dr. Horberg and his team with questions directly through the application. You can even include pictures or video if needed.

  • Reminders: Dr. Horberg’s rehabilitation protocols are built into the application and will remind you of important things you need to do in the time leading up to surgery as well as during your recovery.

  • Education: there are video demonstrations of your home exercises as well as commonly asked questions and answers stored in the ap. You can also be linked to other resources Dr. Horberg has made available online.

  • Rehab Monitoring: for patients who use smartphones, smart watches or smart implants, you can choose to have Dr. Horberg can directly monitor your activity level as you recover. This can help him identify patients who may need to be checked on more frequently or have their therapy modified.

Can I Stay in Touch with My Mobility?

All of Dr. Horberg’s total joint replacement patients can use the My Mobility platform to stay in better touch with his team. If your are interested in using this system, let Dr. Horberg and his team know. We can help you get set up!