Wellness

[SeaMaiden]

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@Evie2004 wrote:

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@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. 

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

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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.

[Kachina624]

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@151949 wrote:

@Kachina624I have had mine 6 years so far .

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

[sfnative]

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@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!

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@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.

[151949]

@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. 

[kismet]

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

[151949]

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.

[depglass]

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.