If you need a knee or hip replacement, new technology can help optimize your recovery.

Salem Health Orthopedics introduced Mako robotic arm assisted surgery in 2020.

How does this impact joint replacement surgery?

“The advantage of robotic arm assisted surgery is to add precision to the knee or the hip replacement and to really allow the opportunity to personalize the joint replacement to the patient’s individual anatomy,” said hip and knee replacement specialist Shane Hess, DO. 

Hess said patients will undergo a computerized tomography (CT) scan before a joint replacement surgery. The orthopedic surgeon then uses that scan, along with Mako technology, to make surgery as exact as possible to the unique anatomy of every patient.

“We’re able to basically provide you a personalized joint replacement prior to putting the implants in your body,” he said. “We know where the implants should be placed to optimize form and function in your body.”

This way it’s clear when going into surgery how much bone should be removed, and the robotic arm ensures the surgeon does not go beyond that.

Embracing new technology

The robotic arm also provides visual, audio and tactile feedback to assist the surgeon with making cuts. This minimizes bone loss and soft tissue disruption, ultimately helping reduce pain after surgery. This decreases the risk of complications while promoting a faster recovery.

“Things change so fast, and technological advancements are all around us,” Dr. Hess said. “Incorporating technology into your surgical plan only makes things better and allows you to truly be patient-specific.”

Hess noted this updated surgical technique gives this patient-specific, minimally invasive surgery advantages over other robotic surgical techniques

“It’s taking what we already do really well and just making it better, and patients are realizing that,” Dr. Hess said.

Salem Health offers surgeries both with and without this technology. Mako robotics are not used for emergency surgery or trauma patients, for example.

Orthopedic care

Are you looking to move forward with a joint replacement? Salem Health is the leader in robotic technology in the mid-Willamette Valley. Click here to learn more about the care we can provide.