Enhancing Knee Replacement Outcomes With Advanced Robotic Technologies

If you are considering knee replacement surgery, it is important to understand the procedure and the advancements in technology that can greatly improve the outcomes. You are in good hands with EmergeOrtho—Blue Ridge Region’s team of board-certified, fellowship-trained knee surgeons who have years of experience conducting successful knee replacements. We utilize the most advanced technologies in orthopedic knee care, including cutting-edge robotic knee replacement.

What Is Knee Replacement Surgery?

Knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty, is a procedure performed to alleviate chronic knee pain and improve mobility. It involves replacing the damaged or worn-out surfaces of the knee joint with artificial implants made of metal and plastic. The surgery aims to restore normal function, reduce pain, and enhance the quality of life for individuals suffering from severe knee arthritis, an injury, or other debilitating conditions.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Knee Replacement Surgery?

Candidates for knee replacement surgery typically experience persistent knee pain that restricts their daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or even resting comfortably. If nonsurgical treatments like medication, physical therapy, or assistive devices no longer provide sufficient relief, surgical intervention may be recommended. A thorough evaluation by our team of experts will determine whether knee replacement surgery is the most appropriate option for you.

New Knee Replacement Technology With Robots

The integration of robotic technologies has revolutionized knee replacement surgery, offering numerous benefits for patients. By using advanced robotic systems, our surgeons can achieve greater precision, accuracy, and customization during the procedure. Although it sounds like a robot does the surgery, robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery is not done by a robot alone. Instead, the robot acts as a guide for our surgeons to follow the plan they have developed in advance. Like traditional knee surgery, our surgeons completely control the procedure and use the robot as an additional, precision surgical tool.

Advantages of Robot-Assisted Knee Replacements

Many patients are choosing to undergo knee replacement with robotics for its many advantages, including:

• Less invasive: smaller incision
• More precise resurfacing of the damaged part of the knee only
• Less trauma to the tissue and bone
• Preservation of healthy tissue and bone
• Quicker procedures, often performed as outpatient surgeries
• More rapid relief from pain
• Better patient outcomes: less rehab and fewer readmissions
• More natural feeling knee following surgery
• Fewer complications and fewer return visits
• Faster return to daily activities
• Lower long-term costs

Advanced Robotic Knee Replacement Technologies

As the trend to use robotic technology for knee surgery grows, surgeons have more available options for this advanced surgery. State-of-the-art replacement technologies used at EmergeOrtho include Stryker’s Mako system and the VELYS system by Depuy Synthes. Both robotic technologies enable our surgeons to perform minimally invasive partial and full knee replacements with exceptional precision. The result is a more accurately positioned implant, potentially leading to reduced pain, faster recovery, and improved overall function. Our knee specialists are committed to developing a personalized surgical plan that works best for your specific condition and will discuss all options available to you.

The Recovery Process From Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacements

Recovery from robotic knee replacements will vary. Factors such as your age, overall health, and whether you experienced any complications, among others, will affect your recovery. The procedure is minimally invasive, so most patients usually go home the same day.

For most patients, it can take around 3 or 4 weeks to make a full recovery. However, some patients have taken up to 6 weeks. Our surgical team will send you home with a personalized aftercare set of instructions that is essential for you to follow to achieve the best and fastest recovery.

Will my knee feel natural?

One of the main worries patients have before a knee replacement in general, and a robotic-assisted one specifically, is whether the results will feel natural. We have found that, in most cases, the knee joint feels more natural after robotic surgery than it does with a traditional knee replacement, due to the enhanced precision used during the surgery.

What are the risks of robotic-assisted knee replacement?

We explain to our patients that there is a potential risk they may feel numbness or stiffness when doing things such as walking up the stairs or kneeling after knee replacement surgery. Robotic knee replacements have been shown to lower that risk. In addition, there are a few other risks of robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery. They include:

• Infection
• Blood loss or blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Stiffness of the knee

Robotic knee surgery typically takes a little longer than standard knee replacements, so there is an added risk of infection around the incision site. Though these risks are rare with robotic-assisted knee replacements, our surgeons will closely identify and monitor your individual risk factors.

We understand that you need to choose the right team for your knee replacement surgery. EmergeOrtho—Blue Ridge Region’s team of top knee surgeons—trained in the most advanced robotic knee technologies—ensures the best possible outcomes for our patients. By utilizing state-of-the-art robotic systems, we can provide personalized and highly precise surgical outcomes, reducing pain, improving functionality, and helping you regain an active and fulfilling lifestyle.

We are happy to discuss your questions and concerns about your knee replacement surgery options. You can schedule an appointment here so you can Emerge Stronger, Healthier, and Better with the help of our knee specialists.