Knee pain is one of the most agonizing experiences anyone can go through. It makes life extremely hard and unbearable as the pain can impact your mobility in a negative way. Traditional knee replacement procedures, such as the ones provided by the Texas Joint Institute, involve the use of an artificial joint to remove the damaged tissue. Robotic-assisted knee replacement, on the other hand, is performed using a robotic arm.
That being said, here’s what you should know about robotic-assisted knee replacement:
1. Surgery Isn’t Necessarily Done By A Robot
From the name ‘Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement’, one may assume that the surgery procedure is performed by a robot. That, however, isn’t the case. As much as a robotic arm is involved when performing the surgery, the orthopedic surgeon assigned to carry out the surgery is ideally in full control of the entire procedure.
The purpose of the robotic arm is to assist the surgeon to carry out his work with a high level of accuracy.
Before initiating the surgery, a computed tomography (CT) scan is done and a 3D model of the knee is created. This model then guides the surgeon as he performs the surgery to place the implant accurately. The robotic arm follows the 3D model to form the right dimensions that the surgeon uses to ensure accuracy in the entire procedure.
2. Who Are The Ideal Candidates Of Robotic Knee Replacement?
People in the age bracket of 50 to 80 years are the ones who are more likely to be subjected to a robotic knee replacement surgery. However, younger people may also go through it. People with severe arthritis, crookedness or deformity, and stiffness are advised to go through robotic-assisted total knee replacement.
Doctors prefer not to do a complete knee replacement surgery on younger patients, the reason being that a revision procedure may be necessary at a later time. That being said, a younger patient that has been incapacitated may be considered to go through a full robotic-assisted knee replacement procedure.
In the determination of who is an ideal candidate for a robotic-assisted knee replacement, the general health of the individual is put into consideration. Keep in mind that complications after surgery are a possible outcome. It is therefore important that the patient is properly checked for all underlying conditions and is deemed fit to go through the operation.
3. What Goes On During Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement?
When conducting the knee replacement surgery, the knee portion that is arthritic is usually extracted and then covered up with metal and plastic parts which serve to form the new surface of the knee joint.
As mentioned earlier, a CT scan is used to make a virtual model imitating the patient’s knee. This model serves as a guide which the orthopedic surgeon uses as a guide. The robotic arm then embeds all the elements of the new knee perfectly into the patient without making an error.
4. How Long It Takes To Recover
After the robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery is done, it can take a patient around 1 to 3 months of properly coordinated physical therapy in order to return to normalcy and experience no pain while walking.
Conclusion
The 4 pointers above have given you a basic idea of what robotic-assisted knee replacement is. If you find yourself experiencing pain while walking or limping while walking or struggling to do certain activities that involve using your knee, it’s important to get a checkup on your knee. Here’s more information about robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery procedures.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
