Total Or Partial Knee Replacement: What You Need To Know About Robotic Knee Surgery

Advancements in medical technology and technique have opened the door to a number of new treatment options for patients. One of these options is robotic knee surgery. If you are in need of a full or partial knee replacement, this is probably an option that has been discussed with you. To ease your fears, take some time to familiarize yourself with this process.

Robotic Knee Surgery

As its name suggest, robotic knee surgery is a computer assisted procedure. To perform the operation, a high-resolution camera is inserted inside a very small hole within the affected area and a pair of attached robotic arms are used to guide the motions of the surgeon's hand to assist with performing the operation. At no time is the robot performing the procedure without the guide of a trained surgeon so you can rest assured that you are being properly taken care of.

Advantages

Here are just some of the advantages robotic knee surgery offers over a traditional procedure.

Less Invasive – Compared to traditional surgery, robotic procedures are far less invasive. Since the robotic arms are used to perform the operation, opposed to the hands of the surgeon, only a small incision over the knee is required. With traditional operations, the entire knee area is sometimes opened.

Enhanced Implant Placement – One of the more challenging parts of knee replacement surgery is implant placement. With traditional methods, surgeons weren't able to plan, size and rotate the implant to the exact location until the knee was opened. However, the computer assisted method allows the surgeon to perform these tasks beforehand, making placement more precise.

Shorter Recovery – Since the procedure can sometimes be performed in a shorter amount of time and is less invasive, you can look forward to a shorter recovery period. With traditional procedures, the invasive operation lead to an extended period of discomfort and limited mobility; however, robotic can lower the time you spend dealing with either issue.

Less Procedures – The assistance of the robot also allows the surgeon to perform more complex procedures at one time. For people with significant knee damage, multiple procedures are sometimes required with traditional operating methods. However, robotic knee surgery allows the surgeon to perform more manipulation at one time, possibly shortening the number of procedures you need.

If you have questions concerning your robotic knee surgery, it's always important to speak with your physician. Your physician will be able to answer questions about the type of equipment they used within their surgical center as well as specific conditions about your operation. Don't hesitate to ask questions until you're comfortable.

For more information, contact local professionals like Noyes Knee Institute.