Robotic Joint Replacement

What is robotic-assisted joint replacement?

If the thought of robotic surgery makes you nervous, don’t worry. Your surgeon at Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is 100% in control of the procedure at all times.

The use of robotic technology to assist in surgery is becoming increasingly common. The team at Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine uses the Mako® robotic arm to assist with various joint replacement procedures, including:

• Total knee replacement
• Partial knee resurfacing
• Total hip replacement

Robotic-assisted surgery isn’t the best option for everyone. Your surgeon carefully evaluates your physical condition and medical history to determine the best type of procedure for you.

How does robotic-assisted joint replacement work?

A robot doesn’t actually perform your joint replacement surgery. However, it does assist with presurgical planning and ensures precise movements during the procedure.

Before surgery, your provider at Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine uses the robotic technology to create a 3D virtual model of your knee or hip. The Mako robotic surgical system uses this model to generate a customized presurgical plan based on your unique joint anatomy.

During the procedure, your surgeon controls the Mako robotic arm from a terminal and carefully removes the damaged or diseased tissue from your joint. The robotic arm is capable of meticulous movements that would be impossible to execute with a human hand.

Information from your presurgical plan guarantees the robotic arm won’t move outside the designated treatment area. This offers a level of precision and control only attainable with robotic technology.

What are the benefits of robotic-assisted joint replacement?

Because robotic-assisted joint replacements utilize customized presurgical plans and precise movements, they offer many advantages over nonrobotic procedures. Benefits of robotic joint replacement include:

• More accurate implant positioning, which leads to improved comfort after surgery
• Reduced risk of damaging healthy nearby tissues
• Smaller incisions, which lead to smaller scars and less pain
• Shorter hospital stays
• Faster recoveries

Robotic-assisted joint replacements also appear to last longer and be less likely to fail than nonrobotic replacements.

To find out if robotic-assisted joint replacement is right for you, call Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine or book an appointment online today.