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Partial Knee Replacement with Minimally Invasive Robotic Technology
When osteoarthritis wears down cartilage in the joints, one area of the body commonly affected is the knees. To address knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, you may find some relief with treatments such as physical therapy, knee braces, anti-inflammatory/pain medications and injections. As time goes on, however, these treatments may no longer be enough, and your knee pain may start limiting your activities and quality of life.
Benefits of Partial Knee Replacement
Partial knee replacement is a surgical procedure that helps relieve pain caused by arthritis in one or two of the three compartments of the knee: the femur, or lower end of the thigh bone; the tibia, or upper end of the shin bone; and the patella, or kneecap. With this procedure, only the damaged area parts of the knee joint are replaced with implants, which may help to minimize trauma to healthy bone and tissue.
Some orthopedic surgeons believe that too many patients who undergo a total knee replacement could have had a partial knee replacement done instead – sparing healthy tissue and bone.
If you have damage from arthritis confined to just one or two compartments of your knee, along with significant pain and disability despite medical treatment, you might be a candidate for partial knee replacement.
The Minimally Invasive Advantage
Minimally invasive robotic surgery offers several advantages for partial knee replacement compared to traditional surgery. During the procedure, the diseased portion of the knee is resurfaced, saving as much of the patient’s healthy bone and surrounding tissue as possible. An implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again. Minimally invasive robotic-assisted partial knee replacement may:
- Facilitate accurate implant positioning that can result in a more natural-feeling knee following surgery
- Result in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional knee replacement surgery
- Promote rapid relief from pain and return to daily activities
The minimally invasive procedure also involves smaller incisions and reduced blood loss.
How the Surgery Works
The partial knee replacement process starts by providing the surgeon with a 3-D virtual model of your unique anatomy based on a CT scan of the knee.
During surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm while preparing the knee socket and positioning the implant based on your personalized plan. The system also guides the surgeon within the predefined area to provide more accurate placement and alignment of your implant.
In randomized studies, robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement resulted in less pain and more accurate implant placement than manual surgeries.
To find out if minimally invasive robotic partial knee replacement is right for you, consult with your physician, or schedule an appointment with one of the surgeons featured on this page.
