Mako can be used for partial knee replacement (PKR), which is a procedure designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis (OA) in one or two compartments of the knee. By selectively targeting the part of your knee damaged by OA, a surgeon can replace the diseased part of your knee while helping to spare the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it.
The Mako technology provides an orthopedic surgeon with a patient-specific 3-D model to pre-plan your partial knee replacement. During surgery, the surgeon guides the Mako robotic-arm based on your patient-specific plan. This allows him to remove only the diseased bone, preserving healthy bone and soft tissue, and assists him in positioning the implant based on your anatomy.
How it works
Have a plan personalized for you
It all begins with a CT scan of your joint that is used to generate a 3D virtual model of your unique anatomy. This virtual model is loaded into the Mako system software and is used to create your personalized pre-operative plan.
In the operating room
In the operating room, a surgeon will use Mako to assist in performing your surgery based on your personalized pre-operative plan. The Mako system also allows him to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed. When he prepares the bone for the implant, the Mako system guides them within the pre-defined area and helps prevent them from moving outside the planned boundaries. This helps provide more accurate placement and alignment of your implant.
After knee replacement surgery
After surgery, your surgeon, your nurses and physical therapists will set goals with you to get you back on the move. They will closely monitor your condition and progress. Your surgeon may review an x-ray of your new partial knee with you.
Contact us today at 617-636-8888 to see if Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery for partial knee replacement is right for you.
1 Blyth MJ, Smith J, MacLean III AB, Anthony, P Rowe. Does robotic surgical assistance improve the accuracy of implant placement in unicompartmental knee Arthroplasty? AAOS 2013 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
