If you have a degenerative disease like osteoarthritis that is in its advanced stages or if you suffer a serious fracture, you are likely to be offered joint replacement surgery. This is a routine surgical procedure, with the most common joints to be replaced being the hips and knees.
Some orthopaedic surgeons like Carrothers Orthopaedic are now offering Mako robotic-arm assisted hip and knee replacements, as well as conventional joint replacement surgery. In this blog we will explore what happens during conventional knee and hip replacements compared to Mako to help you decide which approach might be best for you.
What happens during conventional hip or knee replacement surgery?
Any kind of joint replacement surgery entails removing the damaged joint and replacing it with a prosthetic implant made from metal, hard plastic or bioceramics. During a hip replacement, the surgeon will make an incision over the front or side of your hip and remove any parts of the bone and cartilage that are damaged or diseased. Healthy bone will be left intact. Once all the damaged areas have been removed, the surgeon will implant a prosthetic socket into your pelvic bone and the round ball at the top of your thigh bone will be replaced with an artificial ball that attaches to a metal stem fixed into the bone.
If you have a damaged knee joint, you may be offered a partial or a total knee replacement, depending on the extent of the damage. In a total knee replacement, all three of the natural compartments of your knee are replaced with prosthetic implants whereas in a partial knee replacement only one compartment is replaced, normally the medial compartment.
The benefit of a partial over a total knee replacements is that there is less cutting into bone and soft tissue which results in less blood loss, faster recovery and fewer complications. However, the revision rate (which means having to have further surgery at a later date) is higher and these can be more complicated than the initial joint replacement surgery and the outcomes may not be as good. Your surgeon will discuss the pros and cons of partial vs total knee replacement if you are eligible.
How does Mako surgery differ?
The Mako system enhances the skill of the orthopaedic surgeon but does not replace it. The system allows the surgeon to make an accurate 3D model of your affected joint prior to surgery, based on a CT scan. This is used to create a detailed pre-surgical plan so the surgeon knows exactly which parts of the joint to remove and which to leave intact. During surgery, the Mako system’s state of the art robotic arm, helps to guide the surgeon to stay within the pre-determined plan, although it also allows them to make minor adjustments if they need to.
Benefits of Mako
The Mako system delivers many benefits for patients but the main one is greater accuracy. Every person’s anatomy is unique and so is the amount of damage or disease affecting their joint. Its innovative software enables the surgeon to plan with precision which parts of the bone and tissue need to be removed and which can stay intact. The prosthesis can be positioned with absolute accuracy within the joint, allowing it to function in a very similar way to your natural joint and minimising stress on ligaments and soft tissue. Patients undergoing Mako surgery generally recover faster and have fewer complications and a lower risk of implant failure than those who have conventional surgery.
Which should I choose?
Not all surgeons offer Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery and there is certainly no reason to be concerned if you are undergoing conventional joint replacement surgery as the procedure is highly advanced and performed routinely with life-changing results. However, if you do have the choice, talk to your surgeon about your individual circumstances and priorities and they will advise you on the best option for you.
If you would like to talk to us about Mako versus conventional hip or knee replacement surgery, please contact us and we would be happy to help.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
Please be reassured that despite the ongoing UK Covid-19 pandemic, orthopaedic treatments are now again being routinely offered to patients. Having the vaccine does not mean that your treatment won’t go ahead. However, in some circumstances, such as for planned surgery, it is advisable to delay it by a couple of weeks to ensure your body responds in the optimum way to the vaccine. If in doubt, please talk to your orthopaedic consultant or contact us for more guidance to help get your orthopaedic treatment back on track.
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