Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement Gets Alice Back To Long Walks

A person’s joints are crucial to several means of motion, such as walking, sitting, climbing and so much more. Still, like other areas of the body, wear and tear on the joints can occur with age. For some, it may even be quicker than others. The importance of our joints for everyday activity is why joint replacement surgery is so common.

Research shows that 790,000 knee replacements and more than 450,000 hip replacements are done each year in the United States.

Still, the decision to undergo joint replacement is never easy. Many people will struggle with years of pain before choosing to have a knee replacement. The same can be said for 61-year-old Crawfordsville resident Alice Stribing.

Getting Help For Knee Arthritis

Stribing had reached a point where her knee pain was painful and inconvenient for her enjoyment of her daily activities. She was facing arthritis in both of her knees? for several years. Even so, the idea of surgery felt just too scary for her.

“I don’t think I even went to the doctor until it was almost too late to do much of anything else,” Stribing said.

It wasn’t until she witnessed her husband’s speedy recovery from a successful hip replacement that she finally agreed to get help for her knee arthritis.

“Medication, physical therapy, weight loss, bracing and injections can be effective ways to manage the pain of osteoarthritis,” said Mark Page, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Lafayette Orthopedic Clinic in Lafayette, Ind., who chooses to practice at Franciscan Health Lafayette East. “Still, there often comes a point when joint replacement is the best option for restoring a person’s function and quality of life.”

With Dr. Page and his team performing knee and hip replacement surgeries at Franciscan Health Orthopedic Center in Lafayette, they have the option of using a reliable personal assistant to help with precise cuts and placement of joint replacement tools. This handy device is called the Mako SmartRobotics™.

How Mako SmartRobotics™ Helps With Joint Replacement Surgery

While the responsibilities of the Mako SmartRobotics™ may appear complex on paper, its objective is to create a virtual model of the patient’s anatomy to position the implants and create a precise plan ahead of the operation.

It accomplishes this plan with 3D CT-based planning software alongside the guidance of a specialist. The surgeon guides the robotic arm to accurately remove diseased tissue and bone and place the new components appropriately.

Dr. Page explained that the robotic assist benefits severe deformity or cases where a patient had previous surgery and kept the hardware. It’s an excellent solution for patients with severe knee pain or stiffness from non-inflammatory degenerative joint disease, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis.

“This tool can assist the surgeon intraoperatively to enhance precision in making boney cuts and placing the components in optimal position,” Dr. Page said. “The surgical procedure is the same in regard to incision and exposure. Still, with robotic assistance, the robot maps the knee or hip to the computer and allows the surgeon to see the effects of component adjustment in real time prior to making the boney cuts.”

Thanks to the Mako SmartRobotics™ system and a team of skilled clinical professionals during and after the surgery, Stribing was up and walking just a couple of hours after her knee replacement. She spent one night in the hospital and was climbing stairs the next day.

By the end of the week after the first knee replacement, Stribing began six weeks of physical therapy, using a walker for a week and then a cane for two weeks.

Confidently Walking With A Second Knee Replacement

Following her recovery, Stribing felt so good she decided to return to her favorite activity, walking the Las Vegas strip, just two months after her first knee replacement. One month later, she returned to Dr. Page for surgery on the second knee with great results and a steady recovery.

Stribing needed to follow her post-operative instructions and the rehabilitation plan to maintain success with her recovery. After each knee replacement, Stribing received therapy from professionals who specialized in knee rehabilitation.

Today, Stribing is feeling comfortable and confident while enjoying long walks again.

Stribing expected the knee surgeries to leave her with a long and painful recovery. Now, she says her only regret is not doing it sooner.

“I’m back to living my life,” she said.