Do you suffer from knee pain? If so, you’re not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, more than 21 million people in the United States suffer from knee osteoarthritis. A degenerative joint disease and considered the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in the knee — resulting in bones rubbing directly against each other. This can lead to severe joint pain, deformity and loss of movement. If you suffer from osteoarthritis in either knee, St. Luke’s Medical Center now offers an innovative treatment option that might be right for you.
Introducing MAKOplasty®: Robotic Partial Knee Resurfacing
Adults in early- to mid-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, or those suffering from another degenerative knee condition, should consider the minimally invasive partial knee resurfacing procedure, MAKOplasty®. Combining CT-scanned 3D knee modeling capabilities and state-of-the-art robotic arm technology with advanced surgical techniques, the MAKOplasty® procedure enables St. Luke’s surgeons to precisely resurface only the diseased portions of the knee. Unlike total knee replacement (which replaces the entire knee joint), the MAKOplasty® procedure enables St. Luke’s surgeons to spare the patient’s surrounding healthy bone and tissue. An implant is then optimally aligned, positioned and secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again.
Benefits of MAKOplasty®
As with a total knee replacement procedure, the MAKOplasty® procedure helps to relieve associated knee pain and to restore knee function. Unlike total knee replacement, patients may also benefit from:
Quicker relief from knee pain.
Improved surgical outcomes.
Quicker recovery, from months to weeks.
Smaller incision, less scarring.
Less blood loss during surgery.
Shorter hospital stays.
A more natural knee following surgery.
Traditional Knee Surgery versus MAKOplasty®
Traditional Knee Replacement*
MAKOplasty®
Average Hospital Stay
3 – 7 days
1 – 3 days
Average Recovery Period
6 – 8 weeks
Approximately 2 weeks
Average Incision Length
8 – 10 inches
2 – 3 inches
Surgical Summary
Total knee replacement
(damaged and healthy bone/tissues)
Resurfacing of damaged
bone/tissues only
*American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with the MAKOplasty® procedure. The knowledgeable surgical team at St. Luke’s Medical Center can explain these risks and help you determine if MAKOplasty® is right for you. For a referral to an orthopedic surgeon who performs MAKOplasty®, call 1-877-351-WELL (9355) today.
As a knee arthroplasty procedure, MAKOplasty® is covered by most Medicare-approved and private health insurers. To verify coverage, please contact your insurance provider. Please click here for a list of health plans accepted by St. Luke’s Medical Center.
About Knee Osteoarthritis
Would you like to learn more about osteoarthritis of the knee? Click here for more information about the causes and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. We also outline how the surgeons on the St. Luke’s staff diagnose the disease and the different types of treatment options available depending upon its severity. In addition, we provide tips on what you can do to manage osteoarthritis of the knee.
