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The Mako SmartRobotics™ Difference

Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure where a diseased or damaged joint is replaced with an artificial joint called an implant. Made of metal alloys and high-grade plastics, the implant is designed to move like a healthy joint. Mako SmartRobotics™ transforms how joint replacement procedures are done by integrating 3D modeling and robotic arm technology into the process. It’s an innovative solution that has been helping joint pain sufferers for more than a decade.

Mako Options  

The Mako total knee is a knee replacement treatment option for people with severe knee pain or stiffness. It’s designed to alleviate the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis, traumatic and other types of arthritis. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako Robotics System to develop a personalized surgical plan and identify the implant size, orientation and alignment based on each patient’s unique anatomy.

The MAKO partial knee replacement is a surgical procedure that relieves pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all areas of the knee. Using Mako, surgeons are able to selectively target only the damaged part of the knee and spare the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding the knee joint.

The Mako total hip procedure is for people who suffer from severe hip pain or stiffness resulting from non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease of the hip. This includes osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis. It’s typically recommended for adults who haven’t experienced adequate relief with conservative treatment options like bracing, medication or physical therapy.

During surgery, your surgeon follows a personalized surgical plan while preparing the bone for the implant. The robotic arm is guided within the pre-defined area and the Mako system, providing a more accurate placement and alignment of the implant.

How Mako SmartRobotics™ Works

  1. Personalized Surgical Plan. Before surgery, a CT scan of your knee is taken to develop a 3D virtual model of your unique joint. Your surgeon uses this model to evaluate your bone structure, disease severity, joint alignment and even the surrounding bone and tissue, so he or she can determine the optimal size, placement, and alignment of your implant.
  2. Range-of-Motion Assessment. Throughout your procedure, Mako provides real-time data to your surgeon. This allows him or her to continuously assess the movement and tension of your new joint, and adjust your surgical plan as needed.
  3. Arthritic Bone Removal. In the operating room, your surgeon guides Mako’s robotic arm to remove the arthritic bone and cartilage from the knee. A virtual boundary provides tactile resistance to help the surgeon stay within the boundaries defined in your surgical plan.
  4. Implant Placement. With the diseased bone gone, your implant is placed into the knee joint. Then it’s off to the recovery room to begin your journey to strengthening your new joint.

Mako SmartRobotics™ Key Points

  • Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan.
  • The only robotic-arm assisted surgical technology with AccuStop™ haptic technology, Mako SmartRobotics™ for knee replacement enables surgeons to limit soft tissue damage by providing visual, auditory and tactile feedback.
  • Mako SmartRobotics™ has been associated with less pain, less need for opiate analgesics, less need for inpatient physical therapy, reduction in length of hospital stay, improved knee flexion and soft tissue protection in comparison to manual techniques.

Mako SmartRobotics™

We understand that knowing what to expect from your joint replacement experience is important to you – and that each person is unique in how they experience joint pain. Our highly trained physicians are here to listen to your concerns and help you understand the available treatment options.

It’s common for people to try medication and exhaust other conservative treatment options for hip or knee pain before considering surgery. If you haven’t experienced adequate relief with other treatment options, you may be a candidate for robotic joint replacement. Please reach out to us with any additional questions or to see if this technology is right for you.

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