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Dr Sean Sutphen, Orthopedic Hip & Knee Surgeon, Bannockburn, Highland Park, Glenview, Wilmette, North Shore, Chicago, IL » Patient Info » Knee » Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement

Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement

What is Arthritis?

The knee is made up of the femur (thighbone), the tibia (shinbone), and patella (kneecap). The meniscus, the soft cartilage between the femur and tibia, serves as a cushion and helps absorb shock during motion. Arthritis (inflammation of the joints), injury, or other diseases of the joint can damage this protective layer of cartilage, causing extreme pain and difficulty in performing daily activities. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. Your doctor may recommend surgery if non-surgical treatment options have failed to relieve the symptoms.

What is Total Knee Replacement?

Total knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which the worn out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with artificial parts.

What is Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement?

Robotic assisted knee replacement surgery is an alternative to the conventional knee replacement procedure. It is performed using robotic-arm technology that allows the surgeon to precisely perform the surgery through a smaller incision as compared to traditional surgery. It is indicated for patients suffering from degenerative knee diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement Procedure

The goal of total knee replacement surgery is to relieve pain and restore the alignment and function of your knee. Robotic assisted utilizes X-rays and CT scans to determine the damaged areas of the joint that need to be removed for the precise placement of the knee implant. Then, the damaged portions of the femur bone are cut at appropriate angles using specialized jigs. The femoral component is attached to the end of the femur with or without bone cement.

The surgeon then cuts or shaves the damaged area of the tibia (shinbone) and the cartilage. This removes the deformed part of the bone and any bony growths, as well as creates a smooth surface on which the implants can be attached. Next, the tibial component is secured to the end of the bone with bone cement or screws.

Your surgeon will place a plastic piece called an articular surface between the implants to provide a smooth gliding surface for movement. This plastic insert will support the body’s weight and allow the femur to move over the tibia, like the original meniscus cartilage.

The femur and the tibia with the new components are then put together to form the new knee joint.

To make sure the patella (kneecap) glides smoothly over the new artificial knee, its rear surface is also prepared to receive a plastic component. All these steps are performed with the help of the robotic arms.

With all the new components in place, the knee joint is tested through its range of motion. The entire joint is then irrigated and cleaned with a sterile solution. The incision is carefully closed; drains are inserted and a sterile dressing is placed over the incision.

Benefits of Robotic Assisted Partial Knee Surgery

The benefits of the robotic assisted partial knee surgery include:

  • Smaller incisions
  • Rapid recovery
  • Precise placement of the implant
  • Reduced injury to adjacent tissues
  • Increased longevity of the implant