The knee is made up of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, all working as one. What makes knee injuries complicated is they could be caused by stress or damage to any of these parts. The knee sits in the middle of three bones: the tibia (your shinbone), the femur (thighbone), and the patella (the kneecap). The first thing to understand about knee health is that the knee is a stabilizing joint that functions and exists directly between two very mobile joints, the hip, and the ankle. After years of wear and tear, or simply with one bad accident or injury, the knee can be sorely in need of surgical repair.
Joint replacement surgery has progressed leaps and bounds in the last couple of decades and is regarded as the most successful surgery in the orthopedic field. There are millions of people around the world who suffer from crippling joint disorders and pain, so this type of procedure often comes as a savior for many patients. And with surgical and technological advancements constantly evolving, it has become possible to restore painless movement to the affected joint so that the individual can return to a normal life after surgery.
If you struggle with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis that has worn down your joints, or if your joints have been worn due to injuries or over-use, you may be a candidate for a full or partial knee replacement guided by robotics. Joint replacement is often a viable option after less invasive treatments have failed to relieve pain and inflammation.
During the past few decades, robotic technology in orthopedic surgery has advanced well beyond navigation and 3-D imaging. Today, robotic techniques help more orthopedic surgeons improve their surgical accuracy and precision during knee arthroplasty. With the robotic innovation, the surgeon guides a robotic arm to more accurately perform your partial or total knee replacement.
The key point for patients to understand is that even when the robot is used, it is your surgeon that is doing your surgery. The robot is only a tool that the surgeon uses to improve the precision of your pre-operative planning and accuracy of the placement of your implants during surgery.
In other words, 3D images of your knee joint help the surgeon determine a specific surgical plan. The surgeon can also plan the fit and alignment of your prosthetic before your surgery begins, which can help improve the accuracy of implant position and placement.
In surgery, the robotic arm allows for the more precise removal of damaged bone and cartilage. Coupled with an experienced surgeon, the robotic technology provides a reliable, accurate knee replacement that can lead to superior joint function and a more successful knee replacement surgery.
To learn more about how innovative new techniques such as robotic knee surgery can provide you with a more successful outcome, call Movement Orthopaedics at (586) 436-3785 to request an appointment, or request one online.
