MAKOplasty Explained
MAKOplasty is a partial knee replacement procedure designed to provide quicker recovery and better surgical results for patients with joint degeneration in only one part of the knee.
With partial knee replacement, surgeons replace only the damaged area of the knee (joint) without compromising the healthy bone and tissue surrounding it. Partial knee replacement can have more complications than total knee replacement and it is known that partial knee replacements lead to more revisions.
How Does It Work?
The MAKOplasty procedure is minimally invasive. It uses the MAKO Tactile Guidance System (TGS) which offers precision that cannot be duplicated manually.
The TGS is impressive, featuring a surgeon-interactive robotic arm and visualization technology that allows the surgeon to create a plan for the surgery. During the MAKOplasty procedure, the TGS creates a three-dimensional, virtual view of the bone surface. It then takes that image and correlates it with the pre-programmed surgical plan.
The robotic arm is used to manipulate cutting tools inside the knee. The robotic arm feels weightless while the surgeon is cutting but changes how it feels when surgeons get close to a surgical boundary.
Points to Remember
According to the MAKO Surgical Corp. website, "Experience has shown that the MAKOplasty procedure allows patients to experience a shorter hospital stay, minimal blood loss, quicker rehabilitation and a smaller scar. In addition, many MAKOplasty patients are able to return to an active lifestyle within weeks of the procedure."
If you are interested in finding out more about MAKOplasty, consult with a surgeon.
Sources:
MAKOplasty Partial Knee Resurfacing. Patient Education.
http://www.makosurgical.com/patients/knee/knee-education.html
MAKOplasty Partial Knee Resurfacing. Q & A.
http://www.makosurgical.com/patients/knee/knee-q-and-a.html
