In the mid-90s, a group of more than 27,000 Swedish patients who had knee replacement surgery received a postcard in the mail asking one question: Are you satisfied with the outcome?
When an overwhelming 83% of respondents said “yes,” researchers spent the next two decades focused on the remaining 17%.
“What they found is that these patients say something just feels different,” says Dr. Joseph Maratt, knee replacement surgeon at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics. “Because of that, there is greater awareness that every knee is slightly different, and one of the best ways to change the outcome for that 17% is to personalize knee replacement based on each person’s anatomy.”
Computer-assisted knee replacement, also known as robotic knee surgery, utilizes advanced technology to enhance the precision and personalization of knee replacement procedures. Integrating computer systems and robotic arms allows surgeons to plan and execute surgeries with greater accuracy for improved patient outcomes.
At Forté, patients receive computer-assisted knee replacements, which are more personalized than traditional knee replacement surgeries.
The first step is patient-specific surgical planning. A CT scan of your knee is used to create a 3D virtual model of your unique joint. After tracking a series of points around your knee, Dr. Maratt guides it through a range of motion to capture how much it will straighten, how far it can bend, and how tight the ligaments are.
“What we often see is that if we just decided to put implants in based on the 3D model alone, you’d end up with a knee that feels too tight when you’re trying to bend it,” says Dr. Maratt. “Those are the things that, in the past, would make recovery really hard.”
Dr. Maratt uses the model to determine the optimal size, placement, and alignment of your implant. With help from the computer guidance system, he can optimize where bone cuts should be and where implants will go so that ligaments are ideally tensioned.
“Think of it as a simulation tool that we can use to try different combinations of things and pick the one that makes the most sense before we make a single bone cut,” he says.
After adjusting the software, Dr. Maratt uses robotic arm technology to help perform the knee replacement. “It ultimately leads to less pain in the post-op period,” says Dr. Maratt. “We can’t make a knee replacement painless, but it leads to a more normal feeling knee and a faster recovery.”
Robotic techniques provide numerous benefits over traditional knee replacement surgery, including:
With the implant in place, you’ll begin your journey to strengthen your new joint. Rehabilitation begins immediately. Within 24 hours of your surgery, your physical therapist will help you stand and walk with an assistive device like a walker, a cane, or crutches. You’ll receive instructions for safely getting in and out of bed so you can move around relatively independently.
Expect to be discharged from the hospital one to three days after surgery. The timeframe depends on your overall health and how well you’re healing. At this point, you should start feeling stronger and taking lower doses of pain medication.
Your physical therapist will give you several exercises to do at home and visit you a few times in the first two weeks. Perform the exercises as directed to help you heal properly and regain maximum mobility and flexibility in your knee.
Just as every knee is different, so is every patient’s experience. But Dr. Maratt says most patients hit a series of milestones as they participate in physical therapy following computer-assisted knee replacement surgery:
Determining your readiness for knee replacement surgery is a personal decision. While Dr. Maratt says he can help you understand when surgery is appropriate for your situation, only you can decide when the time is right.
“My advice is to take note if you’re unhappy with the choices you’re making, such as choosing to sit in your hotel room rather than going sightseeing with your family,” says Dr. Maratt.
“When you get to that point, don’t become sedentary,” he says. “Get back to the things in life that you like doing.”
Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics provides exceptional care tailored to your needs. With over 40 years of experience, we know the importance of putting patients first. When you visit us with knee pain concerns, expect to meet with one of our doctors and leave with a detailed action plan in hand. Our flexibility and comprehensive services mean you can see a physician, get diagnostic imaging, and start treatment all in one convenient location. If you’re considering computer-assisted knee replacement, contact us to request an appointment at one of our locations in Carmel, Greenwood, Noblesville, or Tipton, IN. We’ll help you take the next step toward a pain-free life.
Our Forté Fast orthopedic urgent care clinic in Noblesville will close at 11:00 am on Friday, December 20th.
Our Tipton office will be closed on Monday, December 23rd.
All Forté locations will be closed Tuesday, December 24th - Wednesday, December 25th for the holiday.
