The knee relies on a series of cartilage, muscles, and tendons to work efficiently. Therefore, surgical processes to address knee injuries have to be precise. Your orthopedic surgeon may utilize Houston robotics-assisted knee replacement to attain satisfactory outcomes with a shorter healing time.
What is robotic-assisted knee replacement?
Knee replacement is a procedure to correct or replace a damaged knee joint. A robot-assisted knee replacement utilizes a robotic arm to place the implant.
Despite misconceptions, a robot does not perform the procedure. The arm only ensures that the implant’s placement is precise.
The arm may incorporate sensors to provide feedback during the procedure. Sensors can determine the precise level of soft-tissue tension, which reduces risks caused by human error.
Traditional knee replacements have a relatively high success rate. But using a robot assistant provides accurate feedback and ensures precision. Using a robot reduces the risk of complications even further.
Who is an ideal candidate for the procedure?
A knee replacement can be a life-changing procedure. So, your orthopedic surgeon will discuss details and address your concern before developing a treatment plan.
Generally speaking, you are a good candidate for the robotic-assisted knee replacement if you are qualified for a traditional knee replacement. But your provider will conduct tests to confirm the process is ideal for your condition.
Your orthopedic surgeon may suggest other options, such as adjusting your diet before prescribing a knee replacement procedure. Only after other alternatives have proven ineffective will your orthopedic recommend robot-assisted surgery.
Robotic-assisted knee surgery may be ideal if you:
- Have femur deformities due to trauma
- Are experiencing severe knee pain caused by osteoarthritis
- Have had previous procedures to implant hardware
- Have trauma on or around the knee
The robotic-assisted surgical procedure
The procedure starts with taking x-rays of your knee joint. A CT scan creates a 3D computerized model to control the robot arm. The system records the dimensions on the operating table to measure deviations when you accidentally move your body.
The robot enables your surgeon to make precise incisions to remove soft tissue where necessary. Accompanying sensors track movements and guide surgeons on the best location for implanting the device. The robot can detect the slightest deviations allowing the surgeon to make real-time adjustments.
Traditional knee replacement surgeries usually take up to six weeks to recover. But the robot arm procedure reduces the time by 50%.
What are the benefits of robotic-assisted knee surgery?
The high precision reduces the dimensions of the incisions and eliminates human errors. The robot arm can detect movements of up to 1mm. The result is a minimally-invasive procedure with shorter recovery than traditional knee replacement surgeries.
The process customizes knee replacement surgery according to each patient’s anatomy. Therefore, the joint feels more natural after the procedure. While experiences may vary, most people completely forget about the prosthetic as they recover.
The procedure has a high success rate and a longer lifespan than traditional alternatives. More than 90% of prosthetics last for more than 20 years after robotic-assisted surgical treatment.
Contact J. Michael Bennett, M.D, PA, to schedule your appointment today.
