When the degenerative effects of Osteoarthritis cause enough pain and limitation to make surgery an option, Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Resurfacing can help enhance or restore your lifestyle. As one of the advanced technologies at Mission Hospital's top-ranked Orthopedic Program, MAKOplasty® provides additional options when considering knee surgery.
Total knee replacement is not always optimal for patients with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis. If your doctor diagnoses partial Osteoarthritis in the knee, Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Resurfacing may be an appropriate solution. Performed with the RIO® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Resurfacing is a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve pain while minimizing blood loss and scarring, sparing bone tissue and improving recovery time.
A Less-Invasive Option
Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Resurfacing is a treatment option for adults living with early to midstage osteoarthritis (OA) in either the inner (medial), top (patellofemoral), or outer (lateral) compartments of the knee. It can be ideal for patients:
- Experiencing knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee and/or under the knee cap, or the outer knee
- Who experience "start up" knee pain or stiffness when initiating activity from a sitting position
- Failing to respond to non-surgical treatments or anti-inflammatory medication
Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Resurfacing also offers the possibility of:
- Less implant wear and loosening
- A smaller incision
- Less scarring and bone removal
- Reduced blood loss
- A more natural feeling knee following surgery
- A more rapid recovery than traditional knee replacement surgery
- Rapid relief from pain and return to daily activities
Computer Assisted Surgery
All knee implants have a life expectancy dependent on several factors, including the patient's weight, activity level, quality of bone stock and compliance with their physician's orders. The life expectancy of an implant can also be improved by proper implant alignment and precise positioning during surgery.
Mission Hospital's RIO® Robotic Arm allows our skilled surgical team consistent and precise control performing partial knee resurfacing, with three dimensional pre-surgical planning and real-time visual, tactile and auditory feedback during surgery. This creates conditions optimal for precise joint resurfacing and implant positioning to ensure longest benefit, which in turn can result in more natural knee motion following surgery.
What to expect
Your physician will review your symptoms and medical history, and possibly perform several tests, prior to making any decisions about surgery. He or she will evaluate your knee and ankle joint alignment and movement, and check your reflexes, muscle strength, range of motion and ligament stability in the affected knee. Your physician may order x-rays to determine the amount of joint or bone damage, cartilage loss and number of bone spurs present.
During the MAKOplasty® knee resurfacing procedure, the surgeon will resurface the diseased portion of the knee, sparing the patient's healthy bone and surrounding tissue. An implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again.
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 within two weeks and return to normal daily activities shortly thereafter.
Referral and Insurance Information
Talk to your physician to decide if Minimally Invasive Tensor Technique or Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Resurfacing are viable surgical options for you, then ask for a referral to Mission Hospital's Orthopedic Services.
We also recommend that you check with your insurance provider before proceeding with any surgery. As a knee arthroplasty procedure, both techniques are typically covered by most Medicare-approved and private health insurers. However, some programs may require a doctor's referral for your insurance to provide coverage.
