Orthopedic surgeons at Day Kimball Hospital are offering patients an innovative option for partial knee, total knee and total hip replacements – Stryker’s Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgical System. This highly advanced robotic technology transforms the way joint replacement surgery is performed, enabling surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy.(1,2,3,4) Among the benefits for patients: less pain and shorter recovery time.

“With Mako, our orthopedic surgeons can provide each patient with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy,” said John O’Keefe, Chief Nursing Officer and VP, Patient Services at Day Kimball Healthcare. “Before entering the operating room, the Mako system allows our surgeons to create a patient-specific 3D model of the joint replacement.”

The Mako System also enables the surgeons to validate and modify the surgical plan intra-operatively. “During the procedure the surgeon guides the robotic-arm to execute the pre-determined surgical plan, providing a more accurate placement and alignment of the implant which means less pain and faster recovery time for patients,” O’Keefe said.

These procedures are performed by specialty trained Mako-certified orthopedic surgeons. Day Kimball Hospital’s orthopedic service line is consistently rated highest in patient satisfaction and holds significant distinctions for hip and knee replacement.

Dr. Scott A. Green, Orthopedic Surgeon with The Center for Bone and Joint Care and Day Kimball Hospital performed Northeast CT’s first total hip replacement procedure using the robotic-arm assisted technology at Day Kimball Hospital on January 7. His colleagues, Dr. Kevin Reagan and Dr. Biren Chokshi, Orthopedic Surgeons are also performing these joint replacement surgeries using the new technology at Day Kimball Hospital.

“We are proud to offer patients the next generation of robotic knee and hip replacement surgery close to home,” said Anne Diamond, President and CEO of Day Kimball Healthcare. “The addition of Mako to our orthopedic service line further demonstrates our commitment to provide the community with cutting edge healthcare.”

The demand for joint replacements is expected to rise in the next decade. Total knee replacements in the United States are estimated to increase by 673 percent by 2030, while primary total hip replacements are estimated to increase by 174 percent.(5) Yet studies have shown that approximately 30 percent of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery.(6)  

The Mako Total Knee application is a knee replacement treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis. The Mako Partial Knee application is designed to relieve pain that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. By selectively targeting only the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, surgeons can resurface the diseased portion of the knee, while helping to spare the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding the knee joint. Studies have shown robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement to be two to three times more accurate than manual partial knee replacement procedures.(7,8,9)

The Mako Total Hip application is a treatment option for adults who suffer from degenerative joint disease of the hip. During surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic-arm during bone preparation to prepare the hip socket and position the implant according to the pre-determined surgical plan. In cadaveric studies, Mako total hip replacement acetabular cup placement has been shown to be four times more accurate and reproducible than manual total hip replacement procedures.(1)

“The procedure is less invasive than traditional surgery, meaning patients often experience less pain after surgery, shorter hospitalization and a more rapid recovery. Patients also often feel better motion and a more natural-feeling joint after the surgery,” O’Keefe said.

Learn more about Stryker’s Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgical System and Day Kimball Healthcare’s orthopedic service line by calling our team of associated orthopedic surgeons from The Center for Bone & Joint Care at 860-963-2133 or visit daykimball.org/mako.

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1 Nawabi DH, Conditt MA, Ranawat AS, Dunbar NJ et al. Haptically guided robotic technology in total hip arthroplasty: a cadaveric investigation. J Engineering in Medicine. 2012;227(3):302-309.
2 Illgen R. Robotic assisted total hip arthroplasty improves accuracy and clinical outcome compared with manual technique. 44th Annual Advances in Arthroplasty Course. October 7-10, 2014, Cambridge, MA.
3 Anthony I, Bell SW, Blyth M, Jones B et al. Improved accuracy of component positioning with robotic-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016;98-A(8):627-35.
4 Hampp EL, Scholl LY, Prieto M, Chang T et al. Robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty demonstrated greater accuracy to plan compared to manual technique. MAKTKA-AJA-9_12509
5 Kurtz S, Ong K, Lau E, Mowat F et al. Projections of primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States from 2005 to 2030. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89:780-5.
6 Christiaan Keurentjes J, Fiocco M, So-Osman C, et al. Patients with severe radiographic osteoarthritis have better prognosis in physical functioning after hip and knee replacement: a cohort-study. PLOS One. 2013; 8(4): 1-8.
7 Dunbar NJ, Roche MW, Park BH, Branch SH et al. Accuracy of Dynamic Tactile-Guided Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty. May 2012. 27(5): 803-808.e1.
8 Lonner, JH. Robotic-arm assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Seminars in Arthroplasty. 2009;20(1): 15-22.
9 Lonner JH, John TK, Conditt MA. Robotic arm-assisted UKA improved tibial component alignment: A pilot study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(1):141-6.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Hip & Knee Replacements
Hip joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, fracture of the neck of the femur or functional deformity of the hip.

Knee joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative, rheumatoid and post-traumatic arthritis, and for moderate deformity of the knee.

Joint replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with certain types of infections, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis instability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, severe instability of the joint, or excessive body weight.

Like any surgery, joint replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, pain, bone fracture, change in the treated leg length (hip), joint stiffness, hip joint fusion, amputation, peripheral neuropathies (nerve damage), circulatory compromise (including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)), genitourinary disorders (including kidney failure), gastrointestinal disorders (including paralytic ileus (loss of intestinal digestive movement)), vascular disorders (including thrombus (blood clots), blood loss, or changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm), bronchopulmonary disorders (including emboli, stroke or pneumonia), heart attack, and death.

Implant related risks which may lead to a revision of the implant include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), audible sounds during motion, and reaction to particle debris. Hip and knee implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint.

The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your physician’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if a joint replacement is right for you.