Mako technology can be used for total knee replacement (TKR), which is a procedure designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Your surgeon can replace the part of your knee damaged by OA with a knee implant, using a personalized surgical plan for accurate placement.
When you hear ‘robotic-arm assisted technology,’ it’s important to understand that the Mako Robotic-Arm doesn’t actually perform the surgery. Surgery is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon, who uses the Mako System software to pre-plan your surgery. Your orthopaedic surgeon will guide the Mako robotic-arm to remove diseased bone and cartilage. Then the surgeon will insert a Triathlon Total Knee implant.
It all begins with a CT scan of your knee joint that is used to generate a 3D virtual model of your unique anatomy. This virtual model is loaded into the Mako System software and is used by your surgeon to create your personalized pre-operative plan.
In the operating room, your surgeon will use the Mako System to assist in performing your surgery based on your personalized pre-operative plan. When the surgeon prepares the bone for the implant, the surgeon guides the robotic-arm within the pre-defined area and the Mako System helps the surgeon stay within the planned boundaries that were defined when the personalized pre-operative plan was created. The Mako System also allows your surgeon to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed. In a laboratory study, Mako Technology demonstrated accurate placement of implants to a personalized surgical plan. This study also showed that Mako Total Knee replacement demonstrated soft tissue protection to the ligaments around the knee.
After surgery, your surgeon, nurses and physical therapists will set goals with you to get you back on the move. They will closely monitor your condition and progress. Your surgeon may review a post-operative x-ray of your new knee with you.