A knee replacement involves replacing a damaged and painful knee joint. The replacement knee is shaped like your natural knee and has thick cushioning called hyaline cartilage that covers the ends of your bones.
The mako robotic-assisted procedures Charleston, SC allows surgeons to use a pre-operative plan customized to their anatomy for greater surgical precision, promoting better bone alignment and soft tissue balancing. This also leads to a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.
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Minimal Incisions
During minimal incision knee replacement surgery, small incisions are made to access the knee. This allows your surgeon to remove damaged bone and cartilage on the ends of your femur and tibia and then fit them with a knee replacement device.
Your doctor may use a computer-based navigation system during the operation to help consistently align the replacement parts. This technology uses small markers at vital anatomical points to guide your surgeon.
However, the robotic assistant does not operate on its own. Your surgeon is in control of the procedure at all times. Your doctor may also use drain tubes or prescribe injectable or oral medications to prevent blood clots. This is to protect your leg while it heals.
Precision
During robotic knee replacement surgery, the arm is programmed to stay within parameters based on your anatomy. This helps reduce the chance of damaging soft tissue during surgery.
This results in a more accurate placement of the implant which may lead to a better result for your new knee. It can also help to reduce pain and a faster recovery.
Despite the use of technology, robotic techniques are fairly new, and long-term benefits haven’t been fully studied. Having your surgery performed by an orthopedic surgeon with experience is essential. They can advise you on whether this surgery is right for you. The more experienced your surgeon is, the higher your chances of a successful operation with good results that can last for years.
Shorter Recovery Time
While you may still require some pain relief medication, robotic surgery typically results in a shorter recovery than traditional knee replacement. The precision afforded by a robot reduces the trauma to surrounding tissue, leading to a quicker healing process and decreased risk of complications such as blood clots.
After surgery, you can anticipate returning to your usual routine within three to six weeks. To help you regain your mobility and strength, your physical therapist will instruct you on performing tailored exercises.
If you live alone, a social worker or discharge planner can help arrange for someone to assist you at home during your recovery. Follow your doctor’s instructions about taking medications to thin your blood and reduce the risk of clots during and after your surgery.
More Natural Feeling
The accuracy of robotic-assisted surgery enables our doctors to better balance knee soft tissue and ligament tension, which leads to a more natural feeling joint. The result is a replacement knee that moves seamlessly and is less likely to feel pain, click, or pop when you bend or walk.
While the robot provides a guide for greater precision, your surgeon still operates. This means you need a skilled orthopedic surgeon experienced in total knee replacement surgery.
Less Joint Awareness
In addition, less tissue disturbance and greater surgical precision can result in a knee replacement that feels more natural. However, more long-term data on this is needed.
Your orthopedic surgeon is still in control of your procedure throughout the entire surgery – the robot assists with the tasks that require great accuracy.
The surgeon works with a computer to create a surgical plan for your knee before he begins the procedure. This allows the surgeon to assess soft tissues and determine optimal knee balance, which is important for alignment, stability, and durability.
Patients who undergo robotic knee replacement can often walk more easily and return home from the hospital sooner. They may even be able to resume their normal routine on the same day of surgery.
