MAKOplasty® Partial Knee Replacement
MAKOplasty® partial knee replacement, or partial knee resurfacing, is a minimally invasive procedure for those suffering with painful early to mid-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. It is performed using the surgeon-controlled RIO® robotic arm system and offers more accurate resurfacing of the diseased portion of the knee, saving as much of the original knee as possible.
As a partial knee surgery, MAKOplasty can be performed on either the medial (inside) compartment, patellofemoral (top) compartment, or the lateral (outside) portion of the knee. It can also be performed as a bicompartmental procedure on both the medial and patellofemoral portions of the knee.
In many cases, patients are permitted to walk soon after surgery, drive a car within two weeks and return to normal daily activities shortly thereafter.
The Use Of This Highly Advanced Robotic Arm Technology Can:
- Enable surgeons to accurately resurface the arthritic portion of the knee and preserve healthy tissue and bone
- Facilitate optimal implant positioning to result in a more natural feeling knee following surgery
- Result in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay when compared to traditional total knee replacement surgery
- Promote a rapid relief from pain and return to daily activities
The RIO robotic arm system assists the orthopedic surgeon in several ways. First, it provides patient-specific three dimensional modeling for pre-surgical planning. Then, during the procedure, the combination of the robotic arm and stereo tracking technology provides the surgeon with real-time visual, tactile and auditory feedback, enabling reproducible precision and optimal positioning of the implant(s) within the knee. It is this level of accuracy that facilitates optimal implant positioning and alignment to result in a more natural knee motion following surgery.
Although the best treatment for each patient must be determined individually, typical MAKOplasty patients share the following characteristics:
- Knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee, under the kneecap or the outer knee
- Start up knee pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
- Failure to respond to non-surgical treatments or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
Like other knee arthroplasty procedures, MAKOplasty is typically covered by most Medicare-approved and private health insurance providers. Please speak with your physician to determine if MAKOplasty may be the right treatment option for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The MAKOplasty ® Partial Knee Resurfacing procedure is designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration and potentially offers the following benefits:
- Improved surgical outcomes
- Less implant wear and loosening
- Joint resurfacing
- Bone sparing
- Smaller incision
- Less scarring
- Reduced blood loss
- Minimal hospitalization
- Rapid recovery
The RIO ® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System features three dimensional pre-surgical planning.
During surgery, the RIO ® provides the surgeon with real-time visual, tactile and auditory feedback to facilitate optimal joint resurfacing and implant positioning. It is this optimal placement that can result in more natural knee motion following surgery.
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any knee surgical procedure, including MAKOplasty. ® Your physician can explain these risks and help determine if MAKOplasty ® is right for you.
Typically, MAKOplasty ® patients share the following characteristics:
- Knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee and/or under the knee cap
- Start up knee pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
- Failure to respond to non-surgical treatments or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicatio
MAKOplasty ® can be performed as either an inpatient procedure or on an outpatient basis depending on what your orthopedic surgeon determines is right for you. Hospital stays average anywhere from one to three days; ambulatory patients return home the same day.
In many cases, patients are permitted to walk soon after surgery, drive a car in the first few weeks, and return to normal daily activities shortly thereafter.
All implants have a life expectancy that depends on several factors including the patient’s weight, activity level, quality of bone stock and compliance with their physician’s orders
Proper implant alignment and precise positioning during surgery are also very important factors that can improve the life expectancy of an implant. Through the use of RIO ®, implants can be optimally aligned and positioned to ensure the longest benefit. RESTORIS ® MCK implants enable the treatment of one or two compartments with OA disease. With single compartment disease, a second compartment may be treated in the future if OA spreads. In addition, because very little bone is actually removed during a MAKOplasty ® procedure, the implants can be replaced with another procedure such as a total knee replacement, if necessary.
Although the root cause of OA is unknown, the risk of developing symptomatic OA is influenced by multiple factors such as age, gender and inherited traits that can affect the shape and stability of your joints. Other factors can include:
- A previous knee injury
- Repetitive strain on the knee
- Improper joint alignment
- Being overweight
- Exercise or sports-generated stress placed on the knee joint
Symptoms of OA of the knee include:
- Pain while standing or walking short distances, climbing up or down stairs, or getting in and out of chairs
- Pain with activity
- Start up pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
- Joint stiffness after getting out of bedM
- Swelling in one or more areas of the knee
- A grating sensation or crunching feeling in the knee during use
Your physician will begin by reviewing your medical history and symptoms. He or she will observe the natural movement of your knee, evaluate your knee and ankle joint alignment, and check your reflexes, muscle strength, range of motion and ligament stability in the affected knee. Your physician may order x-rays to determine how much joint or bone damage has been done, how much cartilage has been lost and if there are bone spurs present. Additional medical imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be ordered to determine exactly where the damage is and its extent. Your physician may also order blood tests to rule out other causes of symptoms, or order a joint aspiration which involves drawing fluid from the joint through a needle and examining the fluid under a microscope.
Whether your OA is mild or severe, your physician will most likely recommend certain lifestyle changes to reduce stress on your knee joints. Additional disease and pain management strategies may include: physical therapy, steroid injections, over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or topical pain relieving creams.
Please speak with your physician if your symptoms aren’t responding to non-surgical solutions, or your pain can no longer be controlled by medication. You could be a candidate for surgery.
The most common surgical knee intervention performed for OA is a total knee replacement. During this procedure, the natural joint is removed and replaced with an artificial implant. This treatment option is usually offered to patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee.
Total knee replacement is not always optimal for patients with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis in just one or two compartments of the knee. For patients with partial OA of the knee, MAKOplasty® Partial Knee Resurfacing may be the more appropriate solution.