Outpatient Partial Knee Replacement with Mako Technology

Not every patient with knee osteoarthritis needs a total knee replacement. For some patients, replacing only part of the knee joint is the solution to their pain. This procedure is called “partial” or “unicompartmental” knee replacement and is now a popular and scientifically supported method of resolving the arthritic pain of the knee, preserving much of the structural integrity of the remaining knee. With partial knee replacement, only the damaged area of the knee joint is replaced, which may help to minimize trauma to healthy bone and tissue making partial knee replacement less invasive than traditional total knee replacement surgery.

There are three types of Partial Knee Replacement

• Unicondylar Knee Replacement is a procedure that replaces only the single affected compartment of the knee, either the medial or lateral compartment.
• Patellofemoral Knee Replacement is a procedure that replaces the worn patella (the kneecap) and the trochlea (the groove at the end of the thighbone).
• Bicompartmental Knee Replacement is a procedure that replaces two compartments of the knee, the medial and patellofemoral compartments.

However, partial knee replacement can be a challenging procedure to perform accurately on a consistent basis using manual techniques. To answer this challenge, Stryker has developed the Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System. Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery is the most consistently reproducible, precision joint replacement installation system available in the world today that allows certified surgeons to optimize knee implant sizing, tracking, and ligament balance enhancing implant function and longevity.

How does the Mako System work?

The Mako System creates a 3D model of the patient’s knee from which your surgeon will develop a pre-surgical plan for positioning the implant(s) based on that patient’s unique anatomy.

The surgeon can test and fine-tune the surgical plan before operating by moving the leg through different ranges of motion. The Mako System provides measurements and visualization, and the surgeon adjusts the plan as needed.

The finalized surgical plan is programmed into the Mako System. The Mako System creates a safety zone for bone removal. While the surgeon guides the robotic arm and is in control of it at all times, the Mako System ensures that bone removal stays with the safety zone of the surgical plan, providing auditory, visual and tactile feedback, stopping the robotic arm if necessary before bone can be removed outside the planned area. Once the bone preparation is complete, the implants are placed in the knee.