A robot called Mako is helping orthopaedic surgeons to perform personalised joint replacement surgery, achieving better results and faster recovery rates than ever before.
Ground-breaking technology
Carrothers Orthopaedics is one of only a small number of surgeons in the East of England offering this type of hip and knee replacement robotic-assisted surgery.
So why have we chosen to utilise this ground-breaking technology and what difference will it make to you as a patient?
When it comes to joint replacement surgery, absolute precision is essential. Even the smallest margin of error can lead to ongoing problems, excessive joint replacement and the possibility of ongoing pain.
As surgeons, we strive to be accurate at all times but human error means that we cannot always achieve 100% accuracy and there are times when we don’t quite manage the pinpoint precision we strive for.
Mako technology provides the support we need to overcome this and deliver more consistent results. As a result, it is possible to experience better outcomes as a patient.
How Robotic Assisted Surgery works
Pre-operative planning
Mako technology is used to generate a virtual 3D model of your joint based on the results of your CT scan. Your surgeon can then use this to pre-plan the surgical procedure in every detail before you reach the operating table. This usually means less time under anaesthetic and a significantly reduced risk of surgical error.
Having a detailed plan ensures that the surgeon knows precisely where to cut so they remove only diseased bone and can preserve as much of your healthy bone as possible. This will be beneficial if revision surgery is required in the future.
Robotic-assisted surgery
During surgery, your surgeon will use the robotic-arm assisted technology to guide them to prepare the joint and position the implant, making minor surgical adjustments where necessary to achieve pinpoint accuracy. The surgeon is prevented from moving outside the pre-defined area so they cannot inadvertently remove healthy bone.
The hip implant can be positioned with improved accuracy, based on your unique anatomy. This can prevent problems occurring at a later date, such as pain related to ligaments rubbing against the replacement joint because the positioning is fractionally out.
The images above are of Andrew Carrothers performing a hip operation on an 88 year old patient using Mako technology. The surgery went to plan and the patient recovery went very well.
Benefits of Mako Technology
Rather than relying on the skill and expertise of the orthopaedic surgeon alone, Mako technology combines this orthopaedic experience with the latest computer technology to achieve unparalleled levels of precision and performance.
As confirmed by the ever-increasing robotic assisted surgery orthopaedics scientific literature, not only does this usually translate into a far more comfortable experience for patients and improved long-term outcomes but often facilitates more minimally invasive the surgery, allowing faster the recovery time and the more consistent surgical results.
At the forefront of orthopaedics
Currently, the number of surgeons offering Mako assisted joint replacement surgery is very small in the UK. However, we expect this to rise as more people become aware of the considerable advantages of this surgical robotic technique, compared to conventional surgery.
Carrothers Orthopaedics offers Mako assisted hip and knee replacement procedures and has a growing list of patients who are delighted with the results. We also offer non-assisted hip and knee replacements with an excellent track record of exceeding patient outcomes.
“Mr. Carrothers performed my total hip replacement in early January this year. From the initial appointment right through from the operation to my recovery and post operation appointment.
Mr. Carrothers has been excellent! I would like to thank him and his wonderful team for the very professional care and attention I received. I have no hesitation in recommending Mr. Carrothers to anyone who is going to have a hip replacement. I am looking forward to getting back to normal life.”
