If you need a knee replacement, chances are osteoarthritis may be the culprit. Known as “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis is one of the most common reasons for knee pain and often requires a full or partial knee replacement at some point in a person’s lifetime.
There’s no cure for osteoarthritis. Lifestyle changes such as weight loss, reducing activities that put stress on knees, low-impact exercise and some medications can help relieve pain, but surgeons often ultimately recommend knee replacement.
The good news is that knee replacement surgeries have come a long way over the past few years. Christopher Eckland, DO, orthopedic surgeon at AdventHealth South Overland Park, is performing robotics-assisted joint replacement surgeries that can offer better long-term outcomes for patients.
“The robotics-assisted technology we use is the newest iteration of replacement surgery,” said Dr. Eckland. “It provides greater accuracy and allows for a smoother, quicker recovery compared to traditional joint replacement surgery.”
Before surgery begins, the robot creates a customized 3D model of your knee to help the surgeon develop an individualized surgical plan based on your unique anatomy. This process helps the surgeon determine the correct size implant for you and how best to place the implant for optimal movement and function. It also eliminates the need for a pre-op CT scan.
During surgery, the robot works in conjunction with your surgeon’s skilled hands to ensure proper positioning of the implant. The technology is so intuitive that it sends information about your knee to the robot’s hand more than 300 times per second.
“The biggest difference compared to the traditional method is the robotics technology offers much stronger checks and balances to ensure everything is as perfect as possible,” said Dr. Eckland. “It verifies and confirms surgical action to enable more surgical precision to help improve outcomes.”
Learn more about orthopedic care at AdventHealth here.
