Makoplasty^® Partial Knee Resurfacing Procedure

Dr. Tarlow utilizes the world's most advanced orthopedic robotic arm and computer software system to return your knee's natural motion and feel. Each implant is customized to precisely optimize your knee alignment, tracking, and ligament tensioning to extend the life of your implant. Makoplasty Robotic partial knee resurfacing is a less invasive solution designed to restore the feeling of a natural knee. Every patient is unique. Every result is precisely beautiful. Walk away from your knee pain today!

Advanced Knee Care, P.C. and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak is one of a few locations world wide to offer partial knee resurfacing with MAKOplasty®, a technique that resurfaces the damaged area of the knee without compromising the healthy bone, ligaments and tissue surrounding it. The robotic-arm assisted, minimally invasive procedure is performed through a smaller incision and in most cases there is a faster, less painful recovery than traditional joint replacement surgery, with many patients back on their feet in just days.

The process begins with a detailed evaluation including an office visit with Dr. Tarlow for specific knee history, detailed physical exam and standing 4 view knee x-ray series. Other special imaging tests might be required. After the decision to perform Makoplasty is finalized, three main steps are completed to assure accurate sizing, precise implant alignment, and proper balancing of the knee. Makoplasty is an inpatient procedure with a usual one night hospital stay. Typical recovery includes using a walker for a week and return to driving within 2 weeks. Most people return to work in 1-4 weeks. As a knee arthroplasty procedure (CPT 27446), MAKOplasty® is typically covered by most health insurers.

Step One:

CT Scan of the knee done at Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak (must be done at this facility – CT machine is specifically calibrated for Makoplasty procedure). The CT provides precise, unique anatomic detail of your knee. This data is entered into the Makoplasty computer and is used both before and during the procedure to accurately plan implant size, orientation and alignment utilizing CT-derived 3-D modeling. A provisional sizing and positioning of components is done before surgical implantation.

Step Two:

Intra operative placement of Computer Navigation. This “tells the computer” exactly where the knee bones are in space and provides kinematic detail about knee motion and balance. This information is used to refine exact placement of the implant, still in the virtual realm at this point in time.

Step Three:

Integration of step one and two allow precise virtual placement of the implant through real-time intra-operative adjustments for correct knee kinematics and soft-tissue balance.

The Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System is now introduced into the knee using minimally invasive exposure and bone sparing removal of damaged tissue to form a shallow trough to allow the Restoris implants to be permanently placed into the knee replicating the precise sizing and location derived from CT scan, Computer Navigation, and virtual kinematics. RIO® assists the surgeon in achieving natural knee kinematics and optimal results at a level of precision previously unattainable with conventional instrumentation.

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Commonly Identified Benefits of Robotic Knee Resurfacing:

• Less Pain vs. Total Knee Has Been Observed
• Rapid Recovery is Commonly Seen
• Minimal Rehab – typical is 3-4 weeks in Physical Therapy
• Minimally Invasive Incision
• Precision Implant Position
• One Night Stay is Usual – exploring Day Surgery option
• Easier Recovery Than Total Knee Has Been Observed
• Preservation of Healthy Tissues
• Patient Specific, Custom Fit for Men and Women
• Return to Activity Including Golf, Tennis, Hiking, Biking, Work

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