London · 02071 838022 | Bath · 01761 422243 / 56
London · 02071 838022 | Bath · 01761 422243 / 56
Some of the country’s leading orthopaedic surgeons are now using advanced robotic-arm assisted technology to provide even greater accuracy for patients during surgery.
The state-of-the-art technology generates a personalised surgical plan bespoke to a patient’s unique anatomy, ensuring precision accuracy for hip and knee replacements.
Just over 500 Stryker Mako robots exist globally, over 50 of these are now placed in Europe, but the vast majority are in America.
Designed by Stryker, one of the world's leading medical technology companies, Mako robotic-arm assisted technology provides patients with a more predictable surgical experience.
Neil Bradbury has completed 1000 Mako-arm assisted procedures.
Neil Bradbury shares his insights on the revolutionary Mako robot: "Knee replacements are among the most successful surgical procedures, as evidenced by patient-reported outcomes. However, as knee surgeons, we continually strive for even better results.
"Traditional knee replacement surgery provides patients with a knee that is still surviving between 90% and 95% of the time at 10 years from surgery, with 82% - 89% of patients satisfied with their replacement.
"With MAKO robotic surgery, we aim to improve patient satisfaction and some studies report patient satisfaction rates of 94%-95%. This is a huge step forward."
Robotics, particularly the Mako robot, represents a significant innovation in this field. For partial knee replacements, robotic assistance has been available for over a decade, and for total knee replacements, it has become mainstream in the past three to four years.
Early results are extremely encouraging with less pain, less bleeding, earlier recovery and faster return to normal function, and lower readmission rates.
The treatment begins with a CT scan of your joint which is used to generate a 3D model. The Mako technology then uses the virtual 3D model to create a personalised surgical plan based on your anatomy...
The treatment begins with a CT scan of your joint which is used to generate a 3D model. The Mako technology then uses the virtual 3D model to create a personalised surgical plan based on your anatomy.
The robotic-arm doesn’t perform surgery, nor can it make decisions on its own or move without the surgeon guiding it. Mako technology assists the surgeon during your joint replacement by guiding the surgery, within a pre-defined area, whilst allowing the surgeon to optimise implant alignment. This results in less than 1mm precision accuracy in the placement and alignment of your knee implant.
During the operation your surgeon moves the joint through a full range of motion, capturing more data during joint motion and picking up tensions in the soft tissues. This allows your surgeon to adjust your personalised surgical plan as it takes into account the complex interaction of the joint surfaces on the bones and ligaments. The surgeon then guides the robotic arm, within the predetermined areas of the joint, to place the prosthesis in the precise position.
Older technologies have been available that help to plan the position of a prosthesis, however, Mako robotic-arm assisted technology combines enhanced planning, dynamic balancing (the ability to change the plan if required mid-procedure) and precision bone cuts - which are all helping to improve outcomes such as early function and reduce post-operative pain.
Alignment of the knee implant and stability following surgery are two key factors influencing outcomes following surgery. In clinical studies, Mako technology demonstrated very accurate placement of the implants, in hip and knee surgery, in accordance with the surgical plan...
Alignment of the knee implant and stability following surgery are two key factors influencing outcomes following surgery.
In clinical studies, Mako technology demonstrated very accurate placement of the implants, in hip and knee surgery, in accordance with the surgical plan.
The superficial and unintentional damage to surrounding tissue during surgery leads to bleeding, swelling and pain. Protection of the soft tissues around the joint is an important factor when performing the surgery. Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery protects more of the soft tissues and provides more accurate bone cuts**.
Infection, instability, stiffness, and misalignment can lead to dissatisfaction with the outcome of the hip or knee replacement procedure resulting in early revision surgery*.
With Mako, robotic-arm assisted surgery the patient benefits from less pain, better and quicker recovery and excellent long-term outcomes following surgery with these implants.
References:
**Iatrogenic Bone and Soft Tissue Trauma in Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Compared With Conventional Jig-Based Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study and Validation of a New Classification System. Kayani B, et al. J Arthroplasty. 2018. J Arthroplasty. 2018 Aug;33(8):2496-2501. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2018.03.042. Epub 2018 Mar 27.
