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Our knees and hips keep us moving. They also degrade with time, producing the joint pain familiar to many over 40. In the past, many patients have declined surgical fixes because of lengthy recovery times, but that's changing. A recent hip and knee resurfacing innovation called the MAKO system has qualified patients back on their feet faster - and in Sacramento, MAKOplasty® is available exclusively through Mercy.
What makes MAKOplasty® unique?
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In arthritic hip and knee joints, cartilage loss results in painful bone-against-bone friction
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The MAKO system removes only the arthritic tissue. An implant replaces the lost bone tissue, providing a smooth artificial surface with a shape and fit customized precisely to the patient's unique anatomy
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This procedure is performed through a relatively small incision, which helps speed the healing process
How MAKOplasty works In the pre-operative phase, sophisticated imaging and software build a 3-D reconstruction of the patient's joint. This not only provides a blueprint for a customized patient-specific implant, it also allows the surgeon to position and align the implant with pinpoint accuracy. This is crucial for comfort, natural motion and implant longevity.
At Mercy Sacramento, MAKOplasty is powered by the RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, which allows for extreme precision. During surgery, RIO provides the surgeon with real-time visual, tactile and auditory feedback to facilitate optimal joint resurfacing and implant positioning.
In many cases, MAKOplasty knee resurfacing patients are permitted to walk soon after surgery, drive a car within two weeks and return to normal daily activities shortly thereafter.
Implant Lifespan All implants have a life expectancy that depends on several factors including the patient's weight, activity level, quality of bone stock and compliance with their physician's orders. Proper implant alignment and precise positioning during surgery are also important factors that can improve the life expectancy of an implant (Through the use of RIO, implants can be optimally aligned and positioned to ensure the longest benefit).
Because very little bone is removed during a MAKOplasty® procedure, the implants can be subsequently replaced with another procedure if necessary.
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