Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery Partial Knee Resurfacing and Replacement
Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery is a treatment option for those living
with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis in either the medial (inner), patellofemoral
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(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 would not be a candidate for partial knee resurfacing.
Mako is a robotic-assisted partial knee resurfacing procedure designed
to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to OA. By selectively
targeting the part of your knee damaged by OA, your surgeon can resurface
your knee while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it.
A minimally invasive procedure, Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery can often
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 unicompartmental
or bicompartmental knee disease. A total replacement is sometimes necessary
if your surgeon discovers during surgery that your knee has more damage
than originally shown in the preoperative X-rays and CT scan.
We understand that making sure you know what to expect from your joint
replacement experience is important to you. As you are reading through
this material, if you have additional questions please reach out to us
to discuss.
Each patient is unique, and can experience joint pain for different reasons.
It’s important to talk to us about the reason for your knee pain
so you can understand the treatment options available to you. Pain from
arthritis and joint degeneration can be constant or come and go, occur
with movement or after a period of rest, or be located in one spot or
many parts of the body. It is common for patients to try medication and
other conservative treatments to treat their knee pain. 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.
- Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted partial knee replacement is a treatment option
for adults living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis (OA) that has
not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. Depending on
where the arthritis affects the knee, patients may have an implant inserted
in any of the following areas:
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.