Understanding Mako Robotic-Assisted Knee Surgery and Its Benefits

Understanding Mako Robotic-Assisted Precision Knee Surgery can help you evaluate whether this modern approach aligns with your goals for pain relief and mobility. At West Coast Joint and Spine, the Mako® system is used to assist surgeons in planning and performing total knee replacements with high accuracy. While no procedure guarantees specific outcomes, Mako robotic-assisted precision knee surgery may offer benefits in implant positioning and soft-tissue preservation.

What Is Mako Robotic-Assisted Precision Knee Surgery?

Mako® robotic-assisted surgery is an image-guided technique designed to help surgeons perform knee replacements with a personalized plan. Before surgery, a CT scan of your knee creates a three-dimensional model of your joint. This model is used to map bone anatomy and determine the optimal implant size and placement. During the procedure, the robotic arm guides instrumentation within the preplanned boundaries, allowing the surgeon to remove diseased bone and cartilage while respecting healthy tissue.

How the Mako System Works at West Coast Joint and Spine

At West Coast Joint and Spine, the Mako workflow begins with a detailed preoperative planning session. Your care team will:

• Obtain a CT scan to build a patient-specific knee model.
• Review the model with you, adjusting implant positioning and alignment to match your anatomy and activity level.
• Use the Mako robotic arm in the operating room to guide bone preparation and implant placement, with real-time feedback on bone removal limits.

The Mako system's haptic boundaries help prevent the surgeon from deviating outside the planned treatment area, which can potentially reduce soft-tissue trauma and improve component alignment.

Potential Benefits of Mako Robotic-Assisted Precision Knee Surgery

While individual outcomes vary, precise implant placement may support more natural knee function and could lower the risk of early implant wear. Some reported benefits include:

• Enhanced Alignment Accuracy: Customized planning can help position components within targeted alignment ranges, leading to balanced knee mechanics.
• Preservation of Healthy Tissue: Defined boundaries guide bone removal, potentially reducing damage to surrounding ligaments and soft tissues.
• Predictable Bone Preparation: The robotic arm assists in achieving the planned bone cuts, which some patients report results in a more natural feeling knee postoperatively.
• Early Mobilization: Smaller incisions and precise technique may contribute to less postoperative pain, allowing quicker participation in physical therapy and daily activities.

Clinical research indicates that patients who undergo Mako-assisted knee replacements often exhibit improved alignment on postoperative imaging compared to those who undergo traditional manual techniques. However, individual recovery timelines and pain relief experiences differ.

Comparing Mako to Traditional Knee Replacement

Traditional total knee replacement relies on manual instrumentation and alignment guides, which may introduce variability in component positioning. In contrast, Mako robotic-assisted precision knee surgery uses a digital plan and robotic guidance to standardize bone cuts. Some studies suggest this can translate into:

• Reduced likelihood of malalignment by more consistently achieving preoperative goals
• Potential decrease in soft-tissue imbalance, which may help with stability and comfort
• A more reproducible surgical technique across different patient anatomies

Even so, both methods share similar risks—such as infection, blood clots, and anesthesia-related complications—so careful patient selection and adherence to postoperative protocols remain essential.

Who May Be a Candidate for Mako Robotic-Assisted Precision Knee Surgery?

Patients considering knee replacement often have symptoms such as persistent pain, stiffness, or instability from osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or other degenerative joint diseases. You may be a candidate if you:

• Experience significant pain that affects daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or standing from a seated position.
• Have not found sufficient relief from non-surgical treatments (physical therapy, injections, medications)
• Wish to explore technology that may offer personalized implant alignment.

A thorough consultation at West Coast Joint and Spine will include a review of your medical history, physical exam, and imaging studies to determine if Mako robotic-assisted precision knee surgery is appropriate for your situation.

The Patient Journey: From Consultation to Recovery

1. Initial Evaluation: Your surgeon discusses symptoms, functional goals, and non-operative treatments tried to date. Imaging is reviewed to assess joint damage and alignment.
2. Personalized Planning: A CT scan of your knee is scheduled. You then meet with the surgical team to review the 3D model and final plan.
3. Procedure Day: Under regional or general anesthesia, the surgeon uses the Mako robotic arm to prepare bone and place implants according to the preoperative plan. A tourniquet may be used to minimize blood loss.
4. Early Recovery: Patients typically begin moving the knee on the same day of surgery, under the guidance of a physical therapist, with pain management protocols, including oral medications and cryotherapy, to support comfort.
5. Rehabilitation: A structured physical therapy program focuses on range of motion, muscle strength, and gait training. Most patients transition from assisted walking to unassisted mobility over several weeks.
6. Long-Term Follow-Up: Regular visits track implant function, alignment, and overall knee performance. Your surgeon monitors progress and advises on activity modifications as needed.

Recovery experiences vary, but smaller incisions and precise technique with Mako may facilitate a more predictable rehabilitation process.

Learning More and Next Steps

Deciding on knee replacement is a significant step. Understanding Mako robotic-assisted precision knee surgery and its potential benefits can help you weigh options alongside traditional methods. West Coast Joint and Spine offers a patient-focused environment where technology supports—rather than replaces—the surgeon's judgment and skill.

For more information about the Mako Total Knee replacement, please visit our Mako Total Knee or contact a physician to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

1. Stryker. "Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery Overview." | https://www.stryker.com/Mako-Total-Knee
2. Cleveland Clinic. "Total Knee Replacement." | https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4608-total-knee-replacement
3. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "Total Knee Replacement." | https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-knee-replacement/
4. Journal of Arthroplasty. "Comparison of Robotic-Assisted and Conventional Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review." | https://www.journalofarthroplasty.com/article/S0883-5403(18)30608-2/fulltext
5. Mayo Clinic. "Robotic Surgery." | https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/robotic-surgery/about/pac-20394948