Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Replacement Surgery Now Offered at Beaufort Memorial
January 29, 2020
Beaufort Memorial Hospital, the first healthcare provider in the area to offer robotic-assisted hysterectomies, is now using the advanced technology to customize and improve total knee replacements.
The cutting-edge Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Surgery System allows orthopedic surgeons to create a surgical plan unique to a patient’s anatomy, and then use the robotic arm to implant the components with greater precision, leading to better function and more natural movement.
More than 100,000 total Mako procedures have been done to date. In laboratory studies, Mako Total Knee enabled surgeons to execute their surgical plans more accurately.
Surgeons can utilize the technology to more closely customize the ideal position of the knee implant, which in turn increases its longevity.
The hospital’s first robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery was performed last week, with another 10 scheduled over the next month.
Dr. Vandit Sardana with Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists offers the state-of-the-art procedure.
Currently, some 700,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States. As the population ages, that number is expected to reach 3 million by the end of this decade.
With the Mako system, the first step in total knee replacement is a patient-specific surgical plan. A CT scan is taken of the knee to create a 3-D virtual model of the patient’s unique joint. The surgeon uses the model to evaluate bone structure, disease severity, joint alignment and the surrounding bone and tissue to determine the optimal size, placement and alignment of the implant.
During the operation, the surgeon follows the preoperative plan, guiding the robotic instrument arm to remove arthritic bone and cartilage and position the prosthetic joint. A virtual boundary established by the robot prevents the surgeon from crossing the bone field into surrounding tissue. Less soft-tissue irritation means less pain for the patient.
In a clinical study, Mako patients surveyed six months after surgery reported lower pain scores and more satisfaction compared to those who received a conventional joint replacement.
The Mako system also offers dynamic joint balancing and allows the surgeon to quantifiably measure the tension of the ligaments on each side of the joint and adjust it if it’s not perfect. Ligament balance is key to a successful long-term outcome.
Learn more about Mako robotic-assisted total knee replacement.
Related Providers
Vandit Sardana, M.D., MSC, FRCSC
Orthopedic Surgery
Accepting new patients
Offers virtual visits