Robotic arm-assisted technology for knee and hip replacement is transforming lives: Dr Amyn Rajani

Every year, arthritis affects 500 million people across the globe. In chronic cases, it often causes painful, restricted movements which directly affects the individual’s quality of life. Sunita’s (name changed) story was no different. What started as a mild pain in her left knee a few years back, progressed into debilitating pain that led the 67-year-old Mumbaiker to avoid stairs, regular walks with friends, and family outings.Conservative treatments like medications, and exercise, were no longer helpful in managing the knee pain.
Scans indicated that the medial side (medial compartment) of her left knee was severely damaged and would need to be replaced. However, Sunita had apprehensions about the surgery. She had concerns regarding the post-op pain, a longer stay in the hospital, and a considerable period of recovery. On consulting Dr. Amyn Rajani, Joint Replacement & Arthroscopy Surgeon at Breach Candy Hospital, she learnt about robotic partial knee replacement as a suitable treatment for her condition.
“Although it could have been either a Robotic Total Knee Replacement or a Robotic Partial Knee Replacement, I chose to proceed with a Robotic Partial Knee Replacement for Sunita considering her specific condition, wherein arthritis had affected only one compartment of her knee, while the remaining two compartments remained unaffected and natural,” says Dr Rajani.
He further adds, “In this case, Mako enabled us to cut less and preserve more natural bone resulting in less post-op pain and faster recovery for the patient. We were able to discharge her in 24 hours while a routine hospital stay in conventional surgery is between 2-3 days. The patients we have operated on using this technology have shown encouraging results.”
Elaborating on how Mako technology works, Dr. Rajani states, “Each patient’s bone anatomy is different, and arthritis further tends to alter the diseased joint. In the case of knee or hip surgery, Mako helps create a personalised virtual 3D model of the patient’s diseased joint based on CT scan. This allows us to pre-plan the surgery, and decide the accurate bone cuts and implant alignment even before entering the operation theatre. And during surgery, as the robotic arm assists in executing the bone cuts, the AccuStop haptics technology ensures the surgeon remains within the virtual boundaries created resulting in more natural bone and soft tissue preservation.”
Based on the medical advice, Sunita opted to undergo the robotic arm-assisted partial knee. She was pleasantly surprised to be walking within 6 hours of the surgery and being discharged the next morning.
Sunita’s story highlights the transformative potential of robotic arm-assisted technology in knee and hip replacement surgeries. As technology continues to evolve, the future of joint surgery looks brighter than ever, promising improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for individuals facing arthritis and other orthopedic challenges.
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