Fall River, MA – Joint replacement surgery has evolved to include some of medicine’s most advanced technologies. Now, an all-new surgical implant using futuristic technology is helping to improve recovery from total knee replacement surgery.

Saint Anne’s is the first hospital in New England to offer the Zimmer Biomet Persona IQ^® “Smart Knee.” Formerly available only in academic medical centers, the Smart Knee implant is unique in that it includes software that collects valuable information about the patient’s recovery, activity level, and quality of movement after surgery.

How the Smart Knee Works

In total knee replacement, an artificial implant replicates all the components of a natural knee. The Smart Knee implant adds an important distinction: a special electronic sensor in the stem of the implant that captures important mobility information, such as range of motion, length of stride, walking speed and distance, and even step count. Information is recorded in a secure docking station in the patient’s home and also is available to the surgeon.

The Value of the Smart Knee

Follow-up after any total knee replacement includes scheduled visits to the orthopedic surgeon during the year after surgery. Smart Knee technology takes this one step further by providing ongoing feedback to the patient and their surgeon.

Orthopedic surgeon Colm McCarthy, MD, of SMG Saint Anne's Orthopedics, is the first  surgeon in New England to use the Smart Knee implant. He explains the value of the new technology. 

“The Smart Knee helps the surgeon monitor a patient’s progress, look for trends in critical measurements, such as how well they can bend and flex the knee, and intervene if needed,” says Dr. McCarthy. “It also helps patients watch their progress every step of the way, providing confidence as they recover, or giving them the chance to check in with the surgeon if they have questions or concerns.”

Michael Bushell, president of Saint Anne’s, notes that this newest tool in the surgical toolbox is an example of the hospital’s ongoing commitment to provide advanced care that benefits patients.

“Over the last decade, Saint Anne’s has invested in surgical technologies that have been game changers in orthopedics, spine surgery, and general surgery,” he said. “Patients and surgeons alike love the accuracy, quicker recovery and positive outcomes technology can add to their experience. The new Smart Knee is yet another exciting advancement.”

Who Is a Candidate for Smart Knee Total Knee Replacement?

The Smart Knee total knee replacement is ideal for patients who:

• were formerly active
• are in good health
• meet pre-surgical criteria, such as no smoking or well-managed diabetes
• have clear lifestyle goals after surgery
• are comfortable with technology
• have Wi-Fi at home, a computer, and a smartphone

Protecting Patient Privacy

Data collected by the Smart Knee is secure and confidential. It is available only to the patient and their surgeon and does not include personal information, such as name, date of birth, or health history.

Learn more

To learn more about knee replacement surgery at Saint Anne’s Hospital, visit saintanneshospital.org/orthopedics.

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About Saint Anne’s Hospital’s Center for Orthopedic Excellence

Saint Anne’s Center for Orthopedic Excellence offers comprehensive orthopedic care, including advanced joint replacement care. 

The orthopedic clinical team includes board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists, registered nurses specializing in orthopedics, and physical and occupational therapists with advanced training. In 2011, Saint Anne’s was the first in Massachusetts to offer robotic-arm assisted Mako technology for partial knee replacement, followed by Mako for total hip replacement in 2012 and Mako for total knee replacement in 2018. In 2022, Saint Anne’s became the first hospital in New England to offer the Persona IQ “Smart Knee” implant for total knee replacement.

In addition to knee and hip replacement, the hospital’s orthopedic capabilities include arthroscopic surgery; hand surgery; surgical and non-surgical sports medicine; orthopedic trauma; pediatric orthopedics; arm and shoulder surgery (including total shoulder replacement); concussion management; and general orthopedics. More than 5,100 orthopedic procedures are performed annually at the hospital’s surgical facilities in Fall River, Dartmouth, and Attleboro. 

In recognition of its excellence in joint replacement, Saint Anne’s Hospital has been awarded advanced certification for hip and knee replacement by The Joint Commission since 2016.  It also has been designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Hip and Knee Replacement by Blue Cross Blue Shield since 2011.

About Saint Anne’s Hospital

Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in 1906, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, is a full-service, acute care Catholic hospital with 211 beds and satellite locations in Dartmouth, Attleboro, Swansea, and New Bedford, Massachusetts. A member of Steward Health Care, Saint Anne’s provides nationally recognized patient- and family-centered inpatient care and outpatient clinical services to patients from surrounding Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities.

Saint Anne’s key services include the Center for Orthopedic Excellence; bariatric surgery; multiple robotic-assisted surgical capabilities, including orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, and general surgery; Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center; two ambulatory surgery centers; the Center for Pain Management; and inpatient geriatric psychiatry services. In addition to earning the Leapfrog Group’s “Straight A’s” for patient safety since 2012 and its “Top Hospital” award for 2021, Saint Anne’s has earned national recognitions for cancer care, orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, stroke care, and patient experience.