Groundbreaking robot tech changing knee replacement surgeries across Australia

World-leading robotic technology is being rolled out in hospitals across Australia, with a woman from Victoria the first to go under the knife.

The new robotic machine can produce a detailed 3D model of a patient's knee, showing surgeons the body part they'll be working on in incredible detail without having to make any incisions.

It means doctors can create personalised surgical plans for each patient, which can potentially fast-track recovery time.

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Doreen Nicholson, 73, suffered a serious fall in February.

She will be the first in Australia to undergo a knee replacement with the help of the new technology at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

"It's been very painful and affected my walking. I had X-rays done and it showed I needed knee replacement," she said.

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Nicholson said she felt "excited but also privileged" when she learned she would be the first in the country to receive the specialised treatment.

While surgeons already use robotics during the surgical process, doctors say this breakthrough goes much further.

"The vast majority of people are going to be happy with their knee after surgery, but there is a dissatisfaction rate and that can vary anywhere from 0 to 20 per cent," Melbourne-based surgeon Professor Tim Whitehead said.

"Potentially, what that does is enable us to provide a very personalised and individual knee replacement."

The technology can also produce what's called a "knee balancer", where the robot assesses the tension of ligaments in the knee.

It gives the surgeon the ability to adjust the placement of the replacement knee to optimise a patient's balance.