Do you suffer from chronic knee or hip pain?

If yes, you should consider MAKO®.

This advanced robotic-arm assisted technology offers a new level of precision—for you that can mean restored mobility and a return to your active lifestyle. The MAKO® procedure is now available at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Call (307) 633-7744 or request an appointment.

Potential benefits of the MAKO® procedure may include:

  • Rapid recovery and quicker return to an active lifestyle
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • More natural feeling of knee and hip
  • Smaller incision

 

What is MAKO® used for?

For the Knee

MAKO® is a robotic arm-assisted partial knee resurfacing procedure designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis (OA). By selectively targeting the part of your knee damaged by OA, your surgeon can resurface your knee while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it.

MAKO® Partial Knee Resurfacing Can:
  • Enable surgeons to precisely resurface only the arthritic portion of the knee
  • Preserve healthy tissue and bone
  • Facilitate optimal implant positioning to result in a more natural-feeling knee following surgery
  • Result in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional total knee replacement surgery

Unlike other more invasive procedures, MAKO® can often be performed through a four- to six-inch incision over your knee with small incisions in both your femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin). Additionally, the preservation of your own natural bone and tissue along with more ideal patient specific implant positioning may also result in a more natural-feeling knee. And since healthy bone is preserved, patients who undergo MAKO® partial knee procedures may still be a candidate for a total knee replacement procedure later in life if necessary.

The MAKO® procedure is indicated for patients suffering from unicompartmental or bicompartmental knee disease. A total replacement is sometimes necessary if your surgeon discovers during surgery that your knee has more damage than originally seen in the pre-operative X-rays and CT scan.

Your physician should discuss the specific risks associated with MAKO® and other treatment options with you. In addition, you should be informed of any pre-operative and post-operative instructions by your surgeon or his or her staff.

As a knee arthroplasty procedure, MAKO® is typically covered by insurance (check with your health insurer ahead of time). In some cases it may be performed on an outpatient basis depending on what your surgeon determines is the right course of treatment for you.

For the Hip

MAKO® is a robotic arm-assisted total hip replacement procedure designed for those suffering with inflammatory or non-inflammatory degenerative hip joint disease. Using real-time information and images of your hip, your surgeon controls accurate implant placement, which can be difficult to achieve with traditional total hip replacement techniques without a robotic arm.

What is Degenerative Joint Disease?
Degenerative joint diseases are chronic conditions often resulting in pain and the loss of an active lifestyle and quality of life. There are different types of degenerative joint diseases that can affect the hip, including:

  • Osteoarthritis, in which cartilage wears down over time
  • Post-traumatic arthritis, which results from a severe fracture or dislocation of the hip
  • Rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory arthritis of the joints
  • Avascular necrosis, a condition where the “ball” or femoral head of the hip joint has lost a healthy supply of blood flow, causing the bone to die and the femoral head to become misshaped
  • Hip dysplasia, a condition where bones around the hip joint did not form properly, which may cause misalignment of the hip joint

What Causes Degenerative Joint Disease?
The risk of developing symptomatic degenerative joint disease is influenced by multiple factors such as age, gender and inherited traits that can affect the shape and stability of your joints. Other factors can include:

  • A previous hip injury
  • Repetitive strain on the hip
  • Improper joint alignment
  • Being overweight
  • Exercise- or sports-generated stress placed on the hip joint
MAKO® Total Hip Arthroplasty Benefits May Include:
  • Accurate placement of your hip implant using the surgeon-controlled robotic arm system, which can reduce the likelihood of hip dislocation
  • More consistency in leg length, potentially decreasing the need for a shoe lift
  • Decreased risk of the implant and bone abnormally rubbing together – this may improve the lifetime of the implant

MAKO® total hip arthroplasty is designed to achieve a new level of precision using the latest techniques in total hip replacement and is designed to restore mobility and an active lifestyle. If your surgeon determines that you are a good candidate for MAKO® total hip arthroplasty, he or she will schedule a computed tomography (CT) scan of your hip one to two weeks prior to your surgery date. This is used to create your unique surgical plan for optimal implant placement.

Your physician should discuss the specific risks associated with MAKO® and other treatment options with you. In addition, you should be informed of any pre-operative and post-operative instructions by your surgeon or his or her staff. As a total hip arthroplasty procedure, MAKO® is typically covered by insurance (check with your health insurer ahead of time).