topic Re: Knee replacements in Wellness

Knee replacements

Evie2004 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:14:08 GMT

Just saw a newspaper article about a local Dr that is doing robotically-assisted knee replacements. Apparently the fit is perfectly done, saving lots of surgery time, I was hoping it would say "minimally invasive", now that would be great..he has done 30 of these in the last 3 months. My left knee is hoping for a new procedure like the anterior hip one that is done now, maybe soon!

Re: Knee replacements

151949 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:22:24 GMT

I have had bilateral makoplastys - which are robitcally done MINIMALLY INVASIVE partial knee replacements.Very much easier to recover from than TKR. I highly reccomend it if it is an option for someone. 2 hours post op physical therapy takes you for a long walk and it doesn't even hurt.

Re: Knee replacements

Evie2004 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:31:02 GMT

@151949 wrote:
I have had bilateral makoplastys - which are robitcally done MINIMALLY INVASIVE partial knee replacements.Very much easier to recover from than TKR. I highly reccomend it if it is an option for someone. 2 hours post op physical therapy takes you for a long walk and it doesn't even hurt.

My ortho group doesn't do partial replacements, they say they always have to be redone..glad yours worked.

Re: Knee replacements

Kachina624 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:59:25 GMT

Who wants to have to go back and have a second surgery? Everyone I know who has had a partial, has had to go back and have a total.

Re: Knee replacements

dmk2 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 06:19:20 GMT

Kachina624, true that.

Re: Knee replacements

151949 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:49:36 GMT

@Kachina624I have had mine 6 years so far .

Re: Knee replacements

151949 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:56:52 GMT

@Evie2004 wrote:
@151949 wrote:
I have had bilateral makoplastys - which are robitcally done MINIMALLY INVASIVE partial knee replacements.Very much easier to recover from than TKR. I highly reccomend it if it is an option for someone. 2 hours post op physical therapy takes you for a long walk and it doesn't even hurt.
My ortho group doesn't do partial replacements, they say they always have to be redone..glad yours worked.

The doctor who did my makoplasty surgeries said that they get a significantly smaller reimbursment for makoplasty and for that reason many doctors prefer to not do them.

Re: Knee replacements

Vivian — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:16:30 GMT

I like to say that I've been active all my life and have the knees to prove it. I go to a sports medicine physician because over the years the first word coming out of his mouth is not "surgery." However, I've reached the point where the pain is interfering with my quality of life. It seems that all my troubles are on one particular area of the knee so I asked my doctor if I am a candidate for a partial replacement. He told me it's possible, and that I should bring it up with an orthopedic surgeon. I will get opinions from several orthopedic surgeons before making any decisions.

Re: Knee replacements

Meowingkitty — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:04:59 GMT

@Evie2004 wrote:
Just saw a newspaper article about a local Dr that is doing robotically-assisted knee replacements. Apparently the fit is perfectly done, saving lots of surgery time, I was hoping it would say "minimally invasive", now that would be great..he has done 30 of these in the last 3 months. My left knee is hoping for a new procedure like the anterior hip one that is done now, maybe soon!

I'm having mine done this way in October. It's minimally invasive as the incision is only about 4 inches. It's also muscle sparing so I will heal faster because they don't have to cut into the muscle.

Re: Knee replacements

Apple Crisp — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:28:32 GMT

@Vivian Have you explored the gel shots for your knees? I just completed a series of five shots of the Supartz brand. It has made a big difference and it can be redone in six months if needed again. I want to avoid TKR if at all possible. There are also some doctors now using stem cells taken from your own blood that they inject into your knees. I will go this route if I ever reach a point where the gel shots don't work.

Good luck to you. I know the pain you are feeling.👍

Re: Knee replacements

SeaMaiden — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 16:44:55 GMT

@Evie2004 wrote:
@151949 wrote:
I have had bilateral makoplastys - which are robitcally done MINIMALLY INVASIVE partial knee replacements.Very much easier to recover from than TKR. I highly reccomend it if it is an option for someone. 2 hours post op physical therapy takes you for a long walk and it doesn't even hurt.
My ortho group doesn't do partial replacements, they say they always have to be redone..glad yours worked.

yes... my ortho said the same thing. He used to do the partial but found that most people required total knee replacement just a few years later so now he only does total knee replacement. He is a Seattle top Doc and has been doing joint replacement for well over 25 years at least.

Re: Knee replacements

Kachina624 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 23:46:52 GMT

@151949 wrote:
@Kachina624I have had mine 6 years so far .

@151949 You've been very fortunate. Keep you're fingers crossed that it continues.

Re: Knee replacements

sfnative — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 15:56:40 GMT

@Evie2004 wrote:
Just saw a newspaper article about a local Dr that is doing robotically-assisted knee replacements. Apparently the fit is perfectly done, saving lots of surgery time, I was hoping it would say "minimally invasive", now that would be great..he has done 30 of these in the last 3 months. My left knee is hoping for a new procedure like the anterior hip one that is done now, maybe soon!

@Evie2004

Unless you're planning on a partial, there is nothiing minimal about a TKA. I've assisted in hundreds of these.

Best thing for you to do is to Google "Total Knee Arthroplasty Video." This will open your eyes as to exactly what happens to the distal end of your femur and proximal end of your tibia, as well as retraction of all adjoining anatomic structures. This is not a simple procedure, even robotically assisted.

Some years ago, the best thing that occurred when it came to TKAs was the development of software and special "receivers" placed on the patients to insure that the surgeon removed the correct amount of bone at the correct angle. This is so incredibly important! It's called "Navigation." Old school surgeons still "eye-ball" it, but I wouldn't go near one.

If it were me, I'd insure that your surgeon uses Navigation and, if fortunate to have an organization which budgeted $$$ for robotics, that's just the icing on the cake.

Good luck! Hope everything turns out well for you.

Re: Knee replacements

151949 — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:17:50 GMT

@Kachina624 I have no pain and I swim or do water zumba almost every day, so they really get a workout.I know several people in our hometown in Fl. who have had the same procedure and have not had any further surgery. Theyu do quite a few makoplastys where I live.

Re: Knee replacements

kismet — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:22:03 GMT

I had both my TKRs done via a minimally invasive procedure. At the time I asked my doctor if he used the robotic procedure and he said no. I saw several patients that recommended him and also there were several in the hospital at the same time as my first that were having the second done by him. He just eyeballed it. Said with the robotic you need to have a hole in one of the bones and would rather not do that. That was 6 and 5 years ago and I'm fine and would do it all over again. I had this done at the local university and was very happy with my care also. Guess I was one of the lucky ones that did very well with both surgeries. Now I know that some of the newer doctors at the same university offer the robotic procedure. It wouldn't hurt to check it out and see how you feel. I think either way a good doctor will produce a good outcome. Good Luck

Re: Knee replacements

151949 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:32:28 GMT

Not all patients qualify for the minimally invasive robotic procedure. It only replaces the cartiledge on one side - the inner aspect.The bottom half of the leg has 2 bones - the tibea and the fibula.At the knee they joint with the femur - a very large bone that is the top half of the leg.The makoplasty only replaces the tibea - as that is the cartiledge that most commonly wears out. So the fibula side is untouched as well as the knee caps. What is seen damaged in the knee when it is x rayed will determine what surgery may be offered to the patient. There has to be a certain amount of cartiledge still in the kneecap and the fibula side for them to do the makoplasty. Otherwise you need a TKR.

Re: Knee replacements

depglass — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:36:29 GMT

As I understood it when I had my TKR, he could have gone the minimally invasive route, but my understanding was the prosthesis was the same, just shoved into a small hole, so to speak. He said there was more of a chance of cutting a nerve or blood vessel. I appreciate honesty. Since I never wear skirts, I told him to go ahead and do the traditional procedure. That scar is healing nicely, not that it is an issue for me.