Mako robotic arm technology is transforming the experience of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery all around the world.
Leading edge technology
Every month, around 13,000 patients worldwide undergo Mako robotic arm surgery, according to statistics from Stryker UK Limited, which developed this leading edge technology. The organisation, which has over 14 years’ experience in robotic orthopaedic surgery, has installed more than 1000 Mako systems globally. It has been featured in over 200 peer-reviewed studies.
A surgical advance
Here in the UK, Mako robotic arm technology is still relatively unknown and there are only a select few orthopaedic surgeons who are offering this ground breaking technique to perform joint replacements. Carrothers Orthopaedics is one of them. Based in the East of England and one of just a handful of orthopaedic specialists to have invested in Mako technology we are proud to be at the leading edge of joint replacement surgery.
Andrew Carrothers described robotic-assisted surgery as a “real advance in orthopaedic elective hip and knee surgery” and explained that the robot acts as a “surgical adjunct” during joint replacement surgery.
Precision accuracy
Patients undergo a CT scan prior to surgery, from which the Mako system creates a detailed 3D model showing exactly what their anatomy looks like. Pre-operatively, this then allows the surgeon to formulate a detailed and highly accurate ‘patient specific operative plan’. During the procedure itself, Mako provides real-time surgical feedback throughout, helping to guide the surgeon to minimise soft tissue disruption, cut with precision accuracy and remove the least possible amount of bone needed. Andrew Carrothers describes this as ‘bespoke patient implantation’.
Faster recovery
Mr Carrothers described how generally patients recover faster, need less painkilling medication, and are up and mobilising more quickly following a Mako-assisted procedure than with conventional joint replacement surgery. This translates into less time in hospital. Better alignment and positioning of the prosthetic implant is likely to result in longer survival times for the replacement joint, which hopefully means the patient is less likely to need joint replacement revision surgery in the future.
Lower pain, higher satisfaction levels
Stryker, which developed the Mako technology, reports a number of important benefits for patients. In a clinical study, the Mako robotic arm helped to protect soft tissues and ligaments from damage. Patients surveyed six months after surgery reported lower pain scores than those who underwent conventional joint replacement surgery. After six months, patient satisfaction levels were also better when compared to those who received a conventional joint replacement.
Mary’s story
One of Carrothers Orthopaedics’ patients – Mary – who underwent a Mako-assisted hip replacement at the age of just 43 – explained how she felt about the procedure in this short video. She said it was the increased level of accuracy that particularly appealed to her. The fact that Mako meant that the procedure could be tailored to her unique anatomy helped to decrease her anxieties about having one leg length longer than the other after surgery.
She described how reassuring it was to talk to her consultant, Andrew Carrothers before surgery and how clearly the procedure was explained to her so that she could make an informed choice about it. “I feel so brilliant now,” she said and admitted that her only regret was that she didn’t have a hip replacement sooner.
Milestone
Carrothers Orthopaedics have now performed over 200 Mako assisted hip and knee replacements and previously celebrated 100 Mako assisted joint replacement procedures. They are continuing to build on this milestone, offering total hip replacements and total and partial knee replacements using this approach.
For more information about Mako robotic arm-assisted joint replacement surgery visit – https://carrothersorthopaedics.co.uk/arthritis-joint-replacement/mako-robotic-arm-assisted-joint-rep… Or contact us for details.
Robotic arm assisted joint replacement | Cambridge
Whether you have chronic pain due to an injury, or have developed a condition such as osteoarthritis, there are options available to you to get back to optimum health. Our specialist consultant orthopaedic surgeons treat a wide range of orthopaedic conditions, including arthritis, trauma, limb deformity and sports injuries. We also offer Mako robotic arm assisted surgery to patients that are suitable.
Our consultation fees are clearly presented here.
For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
