Robotic Joint Replacement
Orthopedic surgeons at Northwest Healthcare offer robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery, a procedure in which a robotic arm is used as an assistive tool during your procedure. This technology helps the surgeon reach a new level of precision during surgery by using a 3-D model to pre-plan before surgery. Your surgeon performs your procedure based on your individual anatomy.
If you are suffering from knee and hip pain due to arthritis - and non-surgical therapies have failed - partial knee or total knee or hip replacement robotic-assisted surgery may help restore your mobility and active lifestyle.
Robotic joint replacement in the news.
Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement is a treatment option for adults living with mid to late-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Robotic-assisted total knee replacement involves a personalized surgical plan based on your unique anatomy. First, a CT scan of the affected knee joint is taken and uploaded into the system software, which creates a 3D model of your knee. This model is used to assist your surgeon in planning and performing your total knee replacement.
In the operating room, your surgeon follows your personalized surgical plan while preparing the bone for the knee implant.
The surgeon guides the robotic arm to remove diseased bone and cartilage within the pre-defined area, and the robotic system helps the surgeon stay within the boundaries of your personalized, pre-operative plan.
It's important to understand that the surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon, who guides the robotic arm during the surgery to position the implant in the knee joint. The robotic arm does not perform surgery, make decisions on its own or move without the surgeon's guidance. Your surgeon will be able to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed.
Robotic-Assisted Total Hip Replacement
If you suffer from non-inflammatory or inflammatory degenerative joint disease of the hip, a total hip replacement may free you from your limited range of motion and much of your pain, and get you back to doing the things you love.
A total hip replacement procedure done with robotic-assisted technology allows your surgeon to create a 3D model to pre-plan your hip replacement. Your surgeon guides the robotic-arm during your procedure based on that plan. This helps your doctor focus on removing diseased bone while helping preserve healthy bone, and assists with positioning the total hip implant based on your anatomy.
Partial Knee Resurfacing
If you're living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis which has not progressed to all three components of the knee, partial knee resurfacing is an innovative, minimally invasive treatment option.
During the procedure, the affected portion of the knee is "resurfaced," saving as much of the original knee and surrounding tissue as possible. Before your surgery, the surgeon will use the robotic system to map your knee to precisely identify the area(s) of diseased bone to be removed.
During surgery, three-dimensional visualization of the knee and robotic arm provides your surgeon with real-time visual, tactile and auditory feedback, so only the diseased portion of the knee is resurfaced. This may result in a more "natural feeling" knee following surgery. Partial knee resurfacing may promote rapid pain relief and get you back to the activities you miss doing - with a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional knee replacement surgery.
In many cases, patients are walking soon after surgery, driving a car in the first few weeks and returning to normal daily activities shortly after that. In many cases, time in the hospital after surgery is minimal.
Am I a Candidate?
You may be a candidate for partial knee resurfacing using this technology if you experience:
- Knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee and/or under the knee cap
- 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