04 Nov Haslam Orthopaedics in the News: Robotic Knee Replacement
Haslam Orthopaedics is proud to provide state-of-the-art treatment for knee replacement using the Mako Robotic Arm. Mako Robotic-Arm-Assisted procedures allow surgeons to better plan and perform total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements.
Each year, surgeons perform an estimated 600,000 knee replacements, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. With the number of orthopaedic surgeries rising as the population ages, orthopaedic practices must adapt to offer the best treatments for each patient. New technology helps personalize care, allowing for precise procedures. Surgery is the last resort for treatment, but when it’s needed, Dr. Haslam and his team use the latest advancements and cutting-edge techniques to reduce recovery time, allow for personalized care and perform precision procedures.
Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Knee Replacement
Recently, Dr. Haslam talked with The Leaf Chronicle about this new knee replacement technology. Read an excerpt from his interview to learn more about this ground-breaking robotic surgery technique:
“As we get older, the knees tend to wear out. That’s when patients really start to feel osteoarthritis in their knees. But there are a lot of patients that are younger who also have bad knees from trauma or injuries.”
And there’s historically been reason for that fear. Knee replacements are difficult to get perfect, and that can lead to complications and long recoveries.
But new technology is improving those outcomes. Mako Robotic-Arm-Assisted technology, designed by Michigan-based Stryker Corp., helps surgeons like Haslam avoid complications due to malpositioning of the implants.
“There’s always been this push to be able to put these implants in perfectly. The robot gets us closer to that. It’s a mechanical device that helps us basically assist in the placement of these cuts so that when we do implants, they’re more perfect,” Haslam said.
“If we can make the ligaments balance better, those patients have better outcomes.”
How the robot works
To better understand, Haslam shares a bit of knee replacement 101.
“Whenever we put in the implants, we have to use a saw. The robot allows us to make accurate cuts without damaging the soft tissues,” Haslam said.
“What’s really nice about the robot is we can simulate prior to making the cuts what the knee is going to be doing. It basically predicts and models how the knee is going to move. So, it’s not just the cuts, but it’s also modeling the person’s anatomy.”
To read the full article, please visit the Leaf Chronicle website.
Haslam Orthopaedics is dedicated to providing patients in Middle Tennessee personalized, expert orthopaedic care. We have three convenient locations in Nashville, Franklin and Clarksville. Please call 615-340-1222 or visit haslamortho.com for more information.