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Knee Replacement Surgery (Robotic Assisted): Procedure, Benefits, and Recovery

December 22nd, 2022 | 4 min. read

By Rob S Williams, MD

If you suffer from debilitating knee pain, you might have osteoporosis, also known as "wear and tear" arthritis. Osteoporosis can cause the cartilage (the smooth cushioning between the bones) to break down, resulting in you suffering from painful, hard-to-move, swollen joints.

Although osteoporosis currently does not have any cure, the disease can be treated in the following ways:

  • Lifestyle changes, including losing weight and limiting movements that cause stress on the knees;
  • Low-impact physical therapy and other light exercises as prescribed by a physician;
  • Taking medicines that offer temporary pain relief by reducing swelling and improving joint mobility;
  • Knee surgery, like arthroscopic surgery, involves a total or partial knee replacement.

 

Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery 

The earlier knee placement surgeries involved the insertion of a long metal alignment rod into the center of the thigh bone to determine the anatomic alignment between the knee and thigh. 

The rod helped the surgeons position the bone cut during the surgical procedure. More recently, digital images like CT scans and MRIs have been used to create computer-generated surgical plans to assist knee replacement surgeries.

With the advent of sophisticated technology, companies can now bypass the need for metal rods, CT scans, and MRIs and use robotic technology to conduct knee replacement surgeries with greater accuracy than before.

Smith + Nephew is the only company that offers robotic-assisted technology for the total and partial knee replacement procedure that avoids the drawbacks of the previous techniques and can ensure a better outcome.

 

CORI Surgical System: Benefits

You can receive a customized surgical plan.

Every knee replacement surgery is unique and needs to be customized to suit individual patients. The surgery would depend on your knee's anatomy and the specific implant that is right for you. 

An individualized knee surgical plan can ensure that the implant is positioned accurately based on your unique anatomy.

In the case of a robotics-assisted surgery, CORI surgical system is followed, where a customized 3-D digital model is created that is unique to your knee's anatomy.

The 3-D view helps the surgeon use the right-sized implant and devise a detailed surgical plan to position the implant in a way that optimizes your knee mobility and function.

In addition, using the 3-D knee model helps avoid CT scans before knee surgery, protecting you from harmful UV rays in the process.

It provides you with an accurate fit.

The success of your knee replacement surgery depends heavily on whether the implant has been positioned correctly. With an inaccurate placement, the implants will not function well and will not last for the longest time.

The detailed 3D view from the CORI surgical system allows the surgeon to benefit from the accuracy of robotic assistance and allows the use of his skills to make the procedure successful.

When the robotic-assisted surgical procedures are combined with the Smith+ Nephew knee implants, your body can regain mobility faster following its natural rhythm.

Robotic-assisted surgeries can also help you recover faster and get discharged from the hospital sooner than traditional surgical techniques.

It provides a wider selection of knee implants.

Knee replacement surgeries are not a one-size-fits-all solution. With robotic-assisted surgery, your surgeon can choose from a wide variety of implants. 

Your surgeon can choose the Smith + Nephew implants, the only ones made from a highly durable material called OXINIUM Oxidised Zirconium. The material makes the Smith + Nephew implant last significantly longer than the other conventional knee implants.

 

CORI Surgical System- Procedure

The procedure is most often used to treat advanced knee pain and damage. Knee replacement is one of the most common procedures where the entire knee is replaced with a suitable implant.

As no two knees are the same, the procedure involves aligning the implant to match the individual patient's knee's existing range of motion.

Unlike the traditional surgical techniques that use rods, the CORI Surgical system uses handheld robotic-assisted technology to plan and perform the knee replacement procedure. The robotic-assisted surgical procedure provides a more customized fit of the implant. It is an efficient procedure that provides more accurate results than traditional knee surgery.

At the beginning of the surgery, your surgeon will use CORI surgical system to create a customized 3-D digital model of your knee. The 3-D image can help the surgeon verify a knee implant that accurately matches your knee's unique position and motion range.

The 3D model of your knee can also help your surgeon plan the procedure without using CT scans or MRI, avoiding exposure to harmful UV rays.

During the procedure, your surgeon will use the accuracy of the CORI system in conjunction with their surgical training to accurately position the knee implant based on your knee anatomy.

The CORI system sends accurate information about your knee to a robotic-assisted handpiece more than 300 times in a second. The steady stream of information assists the surgeon in removing the damaged knee surfaces, balancing your joint, and accurately positioning the implant.

Proper positioning of the knee implant chosen precisely for your knees can help your recover faster and quicker from the surgery. It will also keep the implant working for a long time.

Risks and Safety Information

Even though the CORI system leads to a successful knee placement procedure, not all patients are candidates for Smith + Nephew products. 

While a knee replacement procedure is conducted to relieve the patients from knee pain and improve their mobility issues, the implants used in the procedure cannot provide the same feeling and mobility as your natural knee. Also, the individual results from the surgery shall vary from person to person.

Like any other surgical procedure, CORI-enabled knee replacement procedures have certain risks. Some risks associated with the surgery include loosening, wear, and infections in the knee area that may require additional surgery.

CORI Surgical System is not for everyone. Make sure to discuss your condition, the implant options, the procedure, and its risks with your surgeon before deciding on it.

The following people should not undergo a COR -enabled procedure.

  • Patients with mental or neuromuscular disorders that limit their ability to control their knee joints
  • Morbidly obese patients
  • Children 
  • Pregnant women

Talk to your orthopedic surgeon to discover if you are a good candidate for robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery.

 

CORI Surgical System Recovery

Robotic-assisted technologies can successfully replace traditional techniques involving rods and harmful digital imaging like CT scans and MRIs offering a more successful knee replacement surgery.

CORI-enabled surgical procedures use a customized 3D model of the patient's knees that portrays an accurate image of their knee joints. It matches the knee implants w

nt's knee position and existing motion range, allowing for a better fit.

With the assistance of robotic-assisted technology, the knee replacement procedure is done with an accuracy that helps the patients quickly recover from the surgery and get back to their normal lives with ease.

 

Orthopedic Care in the South Texas Gulf Coast

At Coastal Orthopedics, we strive to offer technologically advanced treatments that can make your knee replacement surgery a success.

Our specialized board-certified orthopedics are highly qualified and have extensive experience in providing world-class treatments to relieve your debilitating knee pain.

If you are living with chronic knee pain and considering knee replacement surgery, schedule an appointment today with Coastal Orthopedics for an evaluation and treatment.






 

Rob S Williams, MD

Dr. Williams has been practicing orthopedic surgery in Corpus Christi since 1998. After graduating from Texas Tech hereceived his medical degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. At the prestigious Campbell Clinic located at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Williams completed not only an Orthopedic Surgery Residency, but an additional year of Fellowship Training in Spine Surgery. Dr. Williams is dedicated to creating an excellent patient experience in the office or in the surgery suite.