R2-D2 Meets R2-Knee2
R2-D2 took a break from filming the new Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie, debuting in theaters today, to meet R2-Knee2 our Stryker Mako robot for knee replacement surgeries. Learn more about robotic knee surgery performed here at Avala.
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Robotic Knee Surgery
Understanding Knee Replacement Surgery
We understand that making sure you know what to expect from the knee replacement experience is important to you. If you have additional questions as you are reading through this material, please reach out to us to discuss.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Knee Pain
Each patient is unique, and can experience knee pain for different reasons. It’s important to talk to your doctor about the reason for your knee pain so you can understand the treatment options available to you.
Arthritis, one possible reason for knee pain, can affect one or more of the three compartments of the knee. Take a look at the different areas where arthritis can affect the knee joint:
- The inside of the knee, or medial compartment.
- The outside of the knee, or lateral compartment.
- The top of the knee is also known as the kneecap, or patella compartment.
Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology For Knee Replacements
Pain from arthritis and joint degeneration can be constant or come and go, occur with movement or after a period of rest, or be located in one spot or many parts of the body. If you haven’t experienced adequate relief with medication and other conservative treatments, total knee replacement may provide you with relief from your arthritis.
How Mako Technology Works
Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee replacement is a treatment option for adults living with mid to late-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Mako provides you with a personalized surgical plan based on your unique anatomy.
First, a CT scan of the diseased knee joint is taken. This CT scan is uploaded into the Mako System software, where a 3D model of your knee is created. This 3D model is used to pre-plan and assist your surgeon in performing your total knee replacement.
In the operating room, your surgeon follows your personalized surgical plan while preparing the bone for the Triathlon Total Knee implant. With over a decade of clinical history, Triathlon knee replacements are different than traditional knee replacements because they are designed to work with the body to promote natural-like circular motion.
The surgeon guides the robotic-arm to remove diseased bone and cartilage 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. In a laboratory study, Mako Technology demonstrated accurate placement of implants to a personalized surgical plan.
Surgery Performed by Surgeon
It’s important to understand that the surgery is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon, who guides the robotic-arm during the surgery to position the implant in the knee joint. The robotic-arm does not perform surgery, make decisions on its own, or move without the surgeon guiding the robotic-arm. The Mako System also allows your surgeon to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed.
