Advancements -
MAKOplasty®
> Partial knee resurfacing: A less invasive treatment option for osteoarthritis
> Who would be a good candidate for the MAKOplasty® procedure?
> If I have these symptoms, could osteoarthritis be to blame?
> How can I determine if I am a candidate for the MAKOplasty® procedure?
> What are the benefits of MAKOplasty®?
> If I decide to undergo a MAKOplasty® procedure, what is the experience like?
> How long can I expect the implant used in a MAKOplasty® procedure to last?
> What are the risks of MAKOplasty®?
> More Information
Partial knee resurfacing: A less invasive treatment option for osteoarthritis
In 2008, The Jewish Hospital Joint Replacement Center became the first and only facility in the Tri-state to perform MAKOplasty® Partial Knee Resurfacing.
MAKOplasty® Partial Knee Resurfacing is an FDA-cleared treatment option for patients who suffer from osteoarthritis damage in the medial (inner) portion of the knee. Using the newly developed Tactile Guidance System™, surgeons are able to perform this procedure through a 2-3 inch incision as opposed to the 8 inch or larger incision required for traditional total knee replacement surgery. Only the diseased portion of your knee is removed, leaving the healthy bone and tissue surrounding it untouched. (In a total knee replacement, the natural joint is removed and replaced with an artificial metal and plastic construct.) An implant is then secured in your knee joint that will allow your knee to move smoothly again. Like other knee resurfacing procedures, MAKOplasty® is typically covered by health insurance.
MAKOplasty® potentially offers the following benefits:
- Improved surgical outcomes
- Less implant wear and loosening
- Joint resurfacing
- Bone sparing
- Smaller incision
- Less scarring
- Reduced blood loss
- Minimal hospitalization
- Rapid recovery
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any knee surgical procedure, including MAKOplasty®. Your doctor can explain these risks and help determine if MAKOplasty® is right for you.
Who would be a good candidate for the MAKOplasty® procedure?
Total knee replacement is usually offered to patients over age 65 with advanced osteoarthritis in all three compartments of the knee. Total knee replacement is not optimal for patients with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis in one compartment of the knee. For patients with partial osteoarthritis of the knee, the MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing procedure may be the more appropriate solution.
Although the best treatment for each patient must be determined individually, typical MAKOplasty® patients share the following characteristics:
- Pain while standing or walking short distances
- Knee swelling
- Knee locking or giving out during activity
- Failure to respond to non-surgical treatment such as rest, weight loss, physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
If I have these symptoms, could osteoarthritis be to blame?
Yes. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is a degenerative bone disease that causes the cartilage found on healthy joints to break down removing the buffer between bones. This often causes pain during normal daily activities and can eventually cause loss of motion and malalignment of the knees.
How can I determine if I am a candidate for the MAKOplasty® procedure?
The first step is to get your complete medical history including your symptoms, when they began, how they have progressed and any non-surgical treatment(s) you
have tried. Your physician will then perform a thorough examination of your knee joint. He/she will observe your knee while you are standing and walking, examine
your knee, hips and ankle alignment, and evaluate your range of motion, ligament stability and angular deformity. If surgery might be the best option for you, a weight-bearing X-ray will be obtained to determine the extent of damage in your knee.
What are the benefits of MAKOplasty®?
MAKOplasty® may be a good alternative to a total knee replacement procedure for the right patient. Because the majority of the knee joint still remains, the procedure is less invasive, there is less scarring and blood loss, and it often results in a knee that feels more natural post-operatively. In addition, most patients who undergo the MAKOplasty® procedure are released from the hospital in 1-2 days and are back to normal activities in approximately two weeks, much sooner than with the traditional knee replacement surgery.
If I decide to undergo a MAKOplasty® procedure, what is the experience like?
First, you will be scheduled to have a CT scan taken of your knee. This provides us with the information we need to properly determine the damaged areas that need to be removed for the precise placement of your knee implant. The actual surgery will last approximately one hour and the average hospital stay is less than 24 hours. You will be permitted to walk soon after surgery, and most patients are back to normal daily activities such as driving a car within two weeks.
How long can I expect the implant used in a MAKOplasty® procedure to last?
All implants have a limited life expectancy that depends on several factors including a patient’s weight, activity level, quality of bone stock and compliance with the doctor’s orders. However, alignment and positioning are also very important factors affecting the life expectancy of an implant. By using the MAKO Tactile Guidance System™, we
aim to achieve the optimal alignment and positioning for your implant to help it last as long as possible. In addition, because very little bone is actually removed
during a MAKOplasty® procedure, the implant can be replaced with another procedure such as a total knee replacement in the future, if necessary.
What are the risks of MAKOplasty®?
There are risks associated with any knee surgical procedure. Your decision on whether or not to have a MAKOplasty® procedure is an important one, and the information provided here is not meant to substitute for the in-depth consultation you should have with your doctor. Only an orthopedic surgeon can adequately diagnose and determine if MAKOplasty® is right for you.
Other questions to ask your surgeon:
- Is osteoarthritis a factor in my knee pain?
- Will reducing activity, taking pain medicine or prescription medication, getting injections or adding physical therapy help easy my pain?
- Would a knee replacement or partial knee resurfacing procedure provide relief from my knee pain?
- Am I a candidate for the MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing procedure?
- What are the benefits and risks involved with knee replacement surgery or the MAKOplasty® procedure?
- How long will it take to recover from a total knee replacement surgery? From a MAKOplasty® procedure?
- How long can I expect the implant to last?
- How does my age affect the proper treatment for my condition?
More Information
Where can I find more information?
For more information on MAKOplasty® partial knee resurfacing, please contact The Joint Replacement Center at 513-686-4040.
Where is MAKOplasty® performed?
The Jewish Hospital is the first hospital in the Tri-state to perform the MAKOplasty® procedure at its Joint Replacement Center.
