The MAKO Story
Robotic Total Knee Replacement
Robotic assisted total knee replacement is explained in the short video below.
The reason Dr Fleming uses the MAKO robot for partial and total knee replacement is that it provides a very accurate method to resurface the joint and achieve excellent soft tissue balance without the need for tissue releases. The CT scan which is mapped to the knee at surgery provides extreme accuracy of the allowable area in which the saw can operate, this has been published demonstrating less soft tissue injury than conventional methods.
When Dr Fleming aligns the implant to match your knee's specific shape, the joint landscape remains true to your knee's original shape, providing familiar terrain over which your joint capsule and the host of tendons and ligaments that surround the knee can move.
When choosing to match your natural knee alignment Dr Fleming aims to deliver a more natural feeling knee that does not require ligament release to achieve balance at surgery.
The implant I use is the Stryker Triathlon; an established top performing implant on the Australian and New Zealand Joint Registry.
What is total knee replacement
Total knee replacement is a procedure aimed at treating knee osteoarthritis enabling a return to living life without pain or instability.
There has been an evolution of techniques that have significantly improved the patient experience. These techniques involve both anaesthetic and surgical improvements. Whilst the implants we use have improved their bearing couplings.
The synergy of these improvements means lower pain scores, less bleeding and smoother recovery than what people had to go through in the past. That said this is still a painful procedure that requires extensive rehab following the surgery in order to regain your strength and motion.
The bulk of the recovery following total knee replacement is achieved within the first 8 weeks. Your knee will continue improving for a year after surgery. During this time the knee will swell in response to busy/active days and will feel warm to touch. It is quite normal to have intermittent aching at night that seems to resolve by the 4 month post op point.
What Can I do after knee replacement?
Knee replacement is very effective in restoring your ability to walk distance without pain.
There are very few restrictions after TKR. Running distance for sport/fitness is not generally encouraged. High impact manoeuvres such as box jumps are not recommended however cycling/spinning /walking/bowls/skiing and doubles tennis are all achievable.
