Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery

Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery Enables a New Level of Accuracy for Joint Replacement Surgery.

If you have ever been told you need joint replacement surgery, there is a new option for you at Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute – Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery. Mako is a technique used by surgeons for partial knee resurfacing, total knee replacements, and total hip replacements. Hartford HealthCare was the first healthcare system in the state to offer patients this new, less invasive tool in orthopaedic surgery.

What makes Mako surgery different? The difference is in the procedure’s high level of accuracy and precision. Mako surgery involves using a Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic System, known as RIO. This surgeon-controlled robotic arm helps surgeons get a patient-specific image and more precisely place and align the implants used in joint replacement surgery.

• Before Surgery: It all begins with a CT scan of your knee or hip joint, which is used to generate a 3D virtual model of your unique anatomy. This virtual model is loaded into the Mako System software and used by your surgeon to create a personalized pre-operative plan.
• In the Operating Room: Your surgeon will use the Mako System to assist in performing your surgery based on your personalized pre-operative plan. When the surgeon prepares the bone for the implant, the surgeon guides the robotic-arm 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. The Mako System also allows your surgeon to make adjustments to your plan during surgery as needed. In a laboratory study, Mako demonstrated accurate placement of implants to a personalized surgical plan. It also showed that MAKO Total Knee replacement demonstrated soft tissue protection to the ligaments around the knee.
• After Surgery: Your surgeon, nurses, and physical therapists will set goals with you to get you back on the move. They will closely monitor your condition and progress. Your surgeon may review a post-operative x-ray of your new joint with you.

Here is some additional information regarding the application of the Mako system in regards to partial knee resurfacing, total knee replacements, and total hip replacements:

• Mako Partial Knee Resurfacing is an innovative treatment option for adults living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis that has not progressed to all three compartments of the knee. During the procedure, the diseased portion of the knee is resurfaced, sparing the patient’s healthy bone and surrounding tissue. An implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again. During the procedure, your surgeon uses a Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic System, known as RIO, which allows for greater precision and accuracy in placing the implant.
• Mako for Total Knee Replacement is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan and identify the implant size, orientation, and alignment based on each patient’s unique anatomy. The Mako System also enables surgeons to virtually modify the surgical plan intra-operatively and assists the surgeon in executing bone resections, transforming the way total knee replacements are performed.
• Mako Total Hip Replacement Surgery can help those suffering from degenerative hip joint disease. After first preparing the femur, the surgeon uses the robotic arm to accurately shape the acetabulum, and then implant the cup at the correct depth and orientation. The surgeon then implants the femoral implant. Mako offers the confidence of more accurate cup placement and accurate leg length restoration. During the procedure, your surgeon uses a Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopaedic System, known as RIO, which allows for greater precision and accuracy in placing the implant surgery.

Conditions Treated

Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery is an option if you or a loved one suffer from the following conditions:

Degenerative Joint Disease