“Ultraprecise” Longer Lasting Knee Replacements

It's a new age of knee replacement! Using 3D modeling and robotics, knee replacements are more personalized, exact, and lead to improved quality of life. How? A presurgery CT scan of the patient’s knee is uploaded to software and the joint is replicated in a 3D model, which the surgeon uses to plan the joint replacement procedure. “In the operating room, the orthopedic surgeon controls a robotic arm that uses computer‐guided mapping software, similar to GPS, integrated into the surgical instruments to position the implant in the knee joint. The digital tracking system constantly monitors and updates the patient’s anatomy and enables the surgeon to make real‐time adjustments to optimize implant placement, alignment, ligament balance and joint motion. This provides each patient with a personalized surgery tailored to his or her individual anatomy.”

With younger patients needing replacements, which used to last approximately 20 years, there was cause for concern that the replacements might need replacing. Replacement expert Dr. Geoffrey Westrich, an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, commented, “With more accurate alignment and positioning, the implant should experience less wear and friction, and it could ultimately last longer” thanks to the robotic precision now available. The procedure spares healthy bone as well, should another replacement be necessary.

 

Read the full press release on Newswise.

Other Categories:

• joint replacement

• Surgery

• technology/robotics