According to the CDC, by 2040 an estimated 78 million American adults aged 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, including arthritis of the knee. That’s over a quarter (26%) of the country’s adult population.

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of knee surgeries. Around 15% of all patients undergoing knee surgery can be treated with a partially implanted prosthesis. Common reasons to prompt a knee replacement surgery include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, or deformities. Advances in robotic-assisted knee replacement technology, such as Mako knee replacements, have made outcomes of minimally invasive surgery even better when it comes to joint replacements.

What Is Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery?

Mako robotic-assisted surgery is a technology developed specifically for knee replacements. Orthopedic surgeons pre-plan your knee replacement surgery using Mako’s proprietary software and then guide the robotic arm to precisely cut out bone and cartilage. This makes the procedure much more precise.

The robot does most of the work, allowing your surgeon to spend more time performing the actual surgery. Your surgeon will be able to see what they’re doing on a 3D video screen, ensuring accuracy.

What Are the Benefits of MAKOplasty?

Mako Robotics is developed by Stryker, a leading provider of minimally invasive orthopedic surgery solutions. Their robotic arm-assisted system gives surgeons the ability to perform complex procedures without having to cut into the patient’s body. Mako knee replacements can be used for partial or total knee replacement procedures.

Makoplasty Knee Replacement Benefits

A Makoplasty total knee replacement offers many advantages over traditional knee replacement surgery, including:

• More accurate placement of the femoral and tibial components, improving stability and longevity of the implant.
• Less dissection of soft tissue during surgery, resulting in less bleeding and quicker recovery.
• Improved understanding of the knee anatomy allowing for more precise bone preparation.
• Increased precision and speed of instrumentation, allowing for faster recovery and shorter hospital stays.

The Mako robot allows surgeons to perform total knee arthroplasties in the same manner as open surgeries while providing superior outcomes. In addition, the robot’s ability to accurately place implants makes it ideal for revision cases where there are existing problems with the original prosthesis.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

Mako uses a CT scan to generate a 3D model of your knee and then helps the surgeon plan out the bony cuts in order to place the prosthesis in the appropriate position.

How a MAKOplasty Works

During a Mako knee replacement, the robot holds the surgical tools and guides them inside the body. The mako robot is brought in to make the femoral and tibial cuts while the implant is placed by the surgeon.

What Is Recovery Like After a Mako Knee Replacement?

Once the surgery is complete, patients are taken out of the operating room and placed in a special bed where they receive physical therapy.

Recovery from robotic-assisted knee replacements is typically quicker than traditional methods. You may be able to walk just hours after your surgery, and can usually return to your everyday activities and routines in about 1-4 weeks. Of course, the exact amount of time varies depending on your health and the extent of your surgery.

Expert, Patient-Centered Joint Replacement

For conditions of the knee, the orthopedic specialists at Town Center Orthopaedics provide a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to care that helps restore function from conditions that may warrant a partial or total knee replacement. Our goal is to get you back to your favorite activities in as little time as possible while using the most advanced technologies possible.

To schedule your evaluation with a knee replacement specialist, request an appointment online.