Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Safdarjung Hospital Performs First Robot-Assisted Total Knee Replacement
Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital used a surgical robot for the first time to replace a patient’s knee.
The operation happened on August 22.
The patient was a 75-year-old man who had limited financial resources.
He received the procedure free through the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The robot helps doctors plan surgery and position implants accurately.
The system can also support partial knee and hip replacements.
Future upgrades may allow it to assist with spine surgery.
The hospital said this technology could help more economically weaker patients receive advanced treatment.
The Central Institute of Orthopaedics at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital performed its first robot-assisted total knee replacement.
The procedure was completed on August 22 for a 75-year-old economically disadvantaged man.
The surgery was provided free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The robotic platform currently supports total knee, partial knee and hip joint replacements.
Future upgrades may enable the platform to support robot-assisted spine surgery.
- Who
- Doctors from the Central Institute of Orthopaedics at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital treated a 75-year-old economically disadvantaged man.
- What
- They performed the institute’s first robot-assisted total knee replacement.
- When
- The procedure was performed on August 22.
- Where
- At VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi.
- Why
- The hospital introduced the technology to expand access to advanced orthopaedic care within the public healthcare system, including for economically weaker patients.
- Procedure
- First robot-assisted total knee replacement at the Central Institute of Orthopaedics
- Patient
- 75-year-old economically disadvantaged male beneficiary
- Date
- August 22
- Cost
- Completely free of cost
- Scheme
- Ayushman Bharat
- Current platform capabilities
- Total knee, partial knee and hip joint replacement
- Potential future capability
- Robot-assisted spine surgery after technological and software upgrades
