A small number of orthopaedic surgeons, including Carrothers Orthopaedics, are offering Mako robotic arm assisted surgery for patients undergoing partial and total knee replacement or total hip replacement procedures.
This ground-breaking technology provides some important benefits over traditional surgical techniques. In this blog we explore what the difference is between traditional and robotic arm-assisted technology, what to expect during a Mako procedure and how you might benefit from choosing a surgeon that works with Mako technology.
What is Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery?
Mako is a ground-breaking approach to surgery that uses robotic technology to support and enhance the skills of orthopaedic surgeons in planning and performing joint replacement surgery.
Who is it suitable for?
Mako robotic arm-assisted joint replacement surgery is suitable for people with severe joint pain due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis or severe fractures. As with conventional joint replacement surgery, it is normally only recommended for patients with severe symptoms who have failed to respond adequately to more conservative treatment options such as pain relief or bracing.
What is the difference between Mako and conventional joint replacement surgery?
In Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery, the surgeon’s skill and expertise is complemented by groundbreaking technology. There are several key differences between Mako surgery and conventional surgery:
- In laboratory studies Mako enables surgeons to implement their surgical plans with greater accuracy.
- Mako protects soft tissues and ligaments from damage, according to clinical studies.
- Patients who undergo Mako surgery report lower pain scores than those who have conventional surgery, when surveyed after six months.
- In clinical studies, Mako patients surveyed six months after surgery report better patient satisfaction scores compared to those who have conventional joint replacement surgery.
What to expect from Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery
The Mako system is used prior to surgery to develop a 3D virtual model of your joint using a digitally reformatted CT scan. Surgeons use this model to assess your bone and associated structures and the unique alignment of your joint, as well as the severity of degenerative diseases.
Using this information, the surgeon can create a personalised surgical plan, with the optimal size, placement and alignment of the prosthetic implant. This process allows the patient to subsequently benefit at their joint replacement surgery from a patient-specific implantation, using tried and tested implants.
During surgery, the robotic arm is used by the surgeon to remove diseased bone and cartilage from the damaged joint. The surgical plan is used to guide the process with absolute precision so no healthy bone or tissue is removed. The surgeon can make fractional adjustments, based on intra-operative real-time data from the Mako system. Such tiny adjustments can have an impact on the long-term comfort and functionality of the replacement joint so it is imperative for surgeons to be able to use their skill and expertise to make such adjustments.
Once any diseased bone and tissue have been removed and the joint surfaces prepared, the Mako system is used to guide the implant into place. Again, the surgeon can make fractional adjustments to the positioning to ensure optimum fit and performance.
What are the main benefits of Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery?
There are many benefits to undergoing a joint replacement using Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery. Because it enables surgeons to work with pinpoint precision, it means the joint implant is more accurately aligned. This leads to better performance, greater comfort and less soft tissue and ligament damage. More healthy bone is preserved which is an important advantage if revision surgery is needed in the future.
Mako surgery can be minimally-invasive so patients spend less time on the operating table and typically recover faster. Patient satisfaction scores are generally higher with this type of surgery and patients report lower pain scores six months after surgery.
If you are interested in finding out more about Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery for joint replacement, talk to Carrothers Orthopaedics. We are proud to have recently completed our 120thMako procedure, making us one of the UK’s leading authorities on this type of surgery.
Carrothers Orthopaedics Consultations – Cambridge
Carrothers Orthopaedics is currently open and scheduling clinic appointments, as well as surgery. The safety of patients and staff remains our number one priority at all times. We are happy to discuss fully the risks and benefits of any proposed orthopaedic surgery, in the context of the ongoing UK Covid-19 pandemic.
Our consultation fees are clearly presented here.
For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
