Mako Robotic Partial Knee Replacement – Indications & Advantages
Mako Partial Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery is intended to treat early stage arthritis in one or two compartments of the knee with increased precision, lesser pain and shorter recovery period.
Mako Partial Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery is a treatment option for those with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis in either the medial (inner), patellofemoral (top), or both compartments of the knee. If osteoarthritis (OA) is present in all three compartments of the knee, it is considered advanced, and you might not be a good candidate for Mako Partial Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery.
Mako is a robotic-assisted partial knee resurfacing procedure designed to relieve the pain caused due to osteoarthritic joint degeneration. By precisely targeting the part of your knee damaged by arthritis, your surgeon can resurface only the affected part of your knee while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it.
Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Partial Knee Replacement Surgery is a minimally-invasive surgery with a shorter incision cut. It can be performed through a 4- to 6-inch incision over the knee with small incisions in both the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shin). Since healthy bone is preserved, patients who undergo Mako partial knee procedures may still be a candidate for a total knee replacement procedure later in life, if necessary.
The Mako procedure is indicated for patients suffering from early-stage arthritis – majorly unicompartmental or bicompartmental knee disease. Pain from arthritis can be consistent or sporadic, occur with movement or after a period of rest, or be in one spot or many parts of the body. It is common to try medication and other conservative treatments to treat the knee pain. However, if you haven’t experienced adequate relief with those treatment options, you may be a candidate for Mako Partial Knee replacement, which may provide you with relief from your knee pain.
How Mako Technology works
Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology provides you with a personalized surgical plan based on your unique anatomy. First, a CT scan of the diseased knee joint is taken. This CT scan is uploaded into the Mako System software, where a 3D model of your knee is created. This 3D model is used to pre-plan and assist your surgeon in performing your partial knee replacement.
In the operating room, your surgeon follows your personalized surgical plan while preparing the bone for the implant. The surgeon guides the robotic-arm within the pre-defined area and the Mako System. The surgeon guides the robotic-arm within the pre-defined area and the Mako System helps the surgeon stay within the planned boundaries that were defined when the personalized pre-operative plan was created. This helps to provide more accurate placement and alignment of your implant.
It’s important to understand that the surgery is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon, who guides the robotic-arm during the surgery to position the implant in the knee joint. The Mako Robotic-Arm does not perform surgery, make decisions on its own, or move without the surgeon guiding the robotic-arm. The Mako System also allows your surgeon to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed.