Lucknow, April 28 -- King George's Medical University (KGMU) is set to introduce a robotic knee replacement surgery facility to improve precision and treatment outcomes for patients. An American-made robotic system, purchased at a cost of around Rs.8 crore, has been installed in the department of orthopaedics. Most doctors in the department have already received specialised training in robotic surgery. Dr Soniya Nityanand, vice chancellor, King George's Medical University, said knee replacement surgeries at present are carried out through traditional open surgery methods. Each operation costs around Rs.1.10 lakh. Around 70 to 80 patients undergo knee replacement surgery at the university every month. She said robotic surgery would not be required for every patient. Doctors would decide its use after assessing the patient's condition, bone structure and severity of the disease. Dr Ashish Kumar, head of the department of orthopaedics, said robotic technology allows highly accurate measurements and alignment during surgery. This helps in precise placement of the artificial knee implant and may lead to better long-term results. He said the new facility would benefit patients from across the state and reduce the need to travel to major metropolitan cities for treatment....