Minimally invasive procedure may reduce post-surgical pain, facilitate enhanced recovery and return to normal activities

NEW YORK, NY, November 14, 2008 – The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases (NYUHJD) is now offering patients a new minimally invasive surgical procedure, MAKOplasty®, that incorporates a robotic arm system to perform partial knee replacements.

This robotic knee replacement surgery may be ideal for patients who have been diagnosed with early or mid-stage osteoarthritis (OA) in the inner portion of their knee, but have an otherwise healthy joint. OA is a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage in one or more joints. According to the American Geriatrics Society, about 50 percent of all persons age 65 and older are affected by OA.

“There is a large part of our population living with osteoarthritis in just one part of the knee who could be likely candidates for this procedure,” said Joseph Bosco, M.D., Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs of NYUHJD's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “In many cases, recovery is quicker and a return to normal lifestyle is easier with a partial knee replacement rather than a total knee replacement. We are very pleased to be able to offer this new treatment option to our patients,” he added.

The surgical procedure uses a guidance system that provides surgeons with a novel method of pre-surgical planning via 3-D digital visualization. Using CT (computed tomography) scans of the patient’s knee, the guidance system maps out the patient’s knee and highlights only the area to be resurfaced, thereby sparing healthy bone and tissue. During the procedure, the robotic arm offers the surgeon – who is in control of the device at all times – visual, tactile and acoustic feedback to ensure that the implants are optimally placed and only the diseased portions of the joint is removed.

For more information visit our MAKOplasty page