Minimally invasive procedure to treat early- to mid-stage osteoarthritis can provide quicker rehabilitation and more natural knee motion post-surgery
WAKEFIELD, R.I. - The South County Hospital Orthopedics Center has added another innovation to its orthopedic surgery offerings: South County Hospital is the first (and currently the only) hospital in New England to offer and perform MAKOplasty(r), a new, minimally invasive partial knee resurfacing procedure used to treat early- to mid-stage osteoarthritis of the knee.
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis and is a leading cause of disability. It can be caused by a knee injury, repetitive strain on the knee, obesity, and a host of other factors. Until recently, this condition was usually addressed with “total knee replacement” surgery, a much more invasive procedure requiring an extensive rehabilitation.
For those with early or mid-stage osteoarthritis that has not yet impacted the entire knee, MAKOplasty knee resurfacing offers an alternative to a total knee replacement-an important option because it spares healthy bone (allowing a patient to keep up to 72-percent more bone than with a “total knee” replacement procedure) and surrounding tissue. In addition, since the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are not severed during partial knee resurfacing, improved mobility and pain relief can be achieved with minimal hospitalization and recuperation.
The highly developed technology behind the robotic arm (called RIO(r)) works in tandem with an interactive 3-D virtual patient-specific visualization system. Using a CT scan of the patient’s knee, the system provides the surgeon with a pre-surgical plan for bone preparation and customized implant positioning. During the procedure, the computer generates a three-dimensional live-action, virtual view of the patient’s bone surface and correlates that image to the pre-programmed surgical plan. As the surgeon uses the robotic arm, its tactile, acoustic and visual feedback limits bone preparation to the diseased areas and provides pinpoint accuracy for optimal implant positioning and placement for each individual patient. (Learn more at http://www.makosurgical.com/.)
The incision for MAKOplasty is small, and the procedure is minimally invasive. Patients may experience a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay compared to traditional knee replacement surgery. Even more important, patients can experience a more “natural feeling” knee following surgery, and a faster return to daily activities.
MAKOplasty can be performed on either the inner, top, or outer compartment of the knee. It can also be performed as a bicompartmental procedure on both the inner and top portions of the knee. MAKOplasty is an FDA-approved procedure and to date, nearly 5,000 procedures have been performed in the US.
For more information about knee resurfacing and the South County Hospital Orthopedics Center, visit http://www.schospital.com/. Call 788-1700 for a brochure, or call 789-1422 for a consultation.
