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Robotic Surgery and You

Over many years, technology has been able to assist medical practice in ways that many thought was unattainable. Implementing state of the art tech into surgical practice not only makes the process easier for surgeons, but it can also reduce the recovery time for patients. In Green Bay or Appleton, hip replacement experience is important to the patients and the doctors that treat them. Administering new ways to aid in the well-being of others is fascinating and exciting. However, those not well versed in the medical or tech industry may be wary of using advanced tech during open surgery, which is completely understandable.

Nonetheless, it is no reason to shy away from new procedures that have been improved and perfected. In the world of orthopedics, a great development has emerged, which is robotic-arm assisted surgery for hip and knee replacement. Keep in mind, it’s not the robotic arm that is performing the surgery. The surgery is actually performed by the orthopedic physician using the system software to plan and perform the procedure. Because a patient’s comfort and understanding of what their body will go through is important to doctors, taking the steps to make the correct information accessible to the public is vital. Let’s take a deeper look into Mako Robotic surgery and technology.

Robotic-arm assisted technology is used in orthopedics in the Fox Valley for joint and hip replacement. Basically, this unique technology helps surgeons provide a personalized surgical experience for patients. Each surgical plan is based on patient-specific diagnosis and anatomy. In the surgery room, surgeons can execute their plan more accurately while protecting healthy tissues and ligaments.

The demand for joint replacement in the U.S. alone is on the rise. The expected rate for total knee replacement alone is subject to increase by over 600% by the year 2030. Total hip replacement will increase by over 100% in addition. Using robot-assisted technology is transforming orthopedics. It all starts when a patient has a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the joint. This scan allows doctors to see more than what an x-ray shows. The data is then used to create a 3D model of the patient’s anatomy. Then the model is uploaded into the Mako system which then generates a personalized preoperative plan. In preparation to surgery, the orthopedic surgeon will review the plan that shows the size and placement of the implant.

After the Mako system has completed its registration in the surgery room, the surgeon will then use the robotic arm to guide to remove any damaged cartilage or bone from the hip or knee. The system creates a ‘virtual boundary’ to prevent the surgeon from removing more than is needed and identified in the plan. Cues are used to show what needs to be removed and what cartilage or bone is untouched. After this process, the knee implant is inserted into the joint space and the procedure is completed.

Next Steps

Click here to learn more about Robotic Surgery for Hip and Knee Replacement. Then schedule a consultation with one of the OSI physicians using the Mako Robotic Arm Assisted Surgery platform.

Please call 920.560.1000 or request an appointment online. OSI is Northeast Wisconsin’s first and only provider of Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery for Hips & Knees.

OSI has convenient locations to serve you. The campus in Appleton includes clinics, a surgery center, MRI, physical therapy, and a skilled nursing facility, as well as a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.

OSI has outreach clinics in De Pere (inside the NOVO Health Clinic), New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location in Oshkosh (inside the NOVO Health Clinic).