Knee osteoarthritis results from wear of the cartilage lining the joint and leads to pain and disability. We have no way of reversing this process at the moment and keyhole surgery is not helpful in relieving pain in these cases.
Knee replacement surgery is the only operation which is successful in established osteoarthritis and is typically very successful.
Satisfaction rates for knee replacement are known to be lower than those recorded for hip replacement surgery; inaccuracies in implant positioning and soft tissue balance is one cause for a less satisfactory outcome.
For this reason, orthopaedic surgeons and medical technology companies are continually striving to develop techniques and tools that improve accuracy and deliver higher patient satisfaction.
Therefore, Mr Simon Bridle is delighted to be one of the first knee surgeons in the UK to employ Stryker’s Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery in knee replacement procedures. This technology is available for his cases at the Fortius Arthroplasty Centre at BUPA Cromwell Hospital and Parkside Hospital.
What happens during knee replacement surgery?
During a knee replacement the surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone lining the joint and then the joint with new synthetic implants, to restore the alignment and function of the knee.
What happens during a Stryker Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Knee Replacement?
Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery does not take the place of the surgeon, but instead allows them to offer a more accurate surgical procedure. Each procedure can be meticulously planned and a 3D model based on the patient’s specific diagnosis and anatomy is produced prior to surgery.
First, a CT scan is taken of the patient’s joint, which generates a 3D model of your unique anatomy. This is then loaded into the Mako software and a preoperative plan is produced, focusing on the implant’s position and choosing the ideal-sized implant to reproduce the patient’s own anatomy.
Adjustments are then made by the surgeon during the surgery to achieve the best implant alignment and soft tissue balance for each individual patient. In particular balancing the soft tissues is vital to achieve a knee which feels and functions as normally as possible. The bone cuts are then made using the robotic arm, within haptic boundaries (this means that the tools are not allowed outside a defined window) and this avoids unnecessary damage to soft tissues.
Very accurate cuts are achieved and this means that positioning of the knee implant is far more accurate and reliable, giving the best chance of achieving a good result.
Since the Mako total knee replacement application was launched in mid-2016 there have been a number of clinical studies performed that have found that soft tissue damage, early pain and blood loss were all reduced compared to manual TKA surgery and multiple studies have found that the early outcome from surgery is highly positive, with patients reporting high levels of satisfaction and an improved functional result. Patients seem to feel that the knee just feels more normal.
MAKO assisted knee replacement is now available at the Fortius Joint Replacement Centre at BUPA Cromwell Hospital and Parkside Hospital in Wimbledon. Mr Bridle has now done more than 20 Mako assisted knees, so is gaining a lot of experience with the technique. He and his patients have been delighted with the results.
To find out if you’re suitable for a Mako robotic knee replacement, call us on 020 8947 9524 to arrange a consultation with Mr Simon Bridle.