The Hughston Approach
The robotic knee replacement system utilizes three-dimensional pre-operative planning in order to optimize knee implant component positioning and alignment. This is a critical factor in knee replacement. Your knee bones and ligaments have a natural alignment to work together. Osteoarthritis wears away cartilage and causes bone growth that disrupts this alignment, causing pain.
Dr. Lucas Richie of Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics is one of the first surgeons in Lebanon to have access to cutting-edge robotic assistance: “We are the first surgeons in middle Tennessee, maybe all of Tennessee, to get first line roll-out of this new hardware and software. We have earned this right by having performed several hundred knee replacements over the last 5 years. This technology will help us take a leap into the future of knee replacement with an improved alignment that will improve outcomes with lower revision rates.”
While the benefits of robotic assistance are easy to see, the surgeon is still the driving force behind the success of your knee surgery: “The robot helps with placement of implants and safe/accurate/precise cuts. The instrumentation is within the surgeon’s hands the entire time but will not allow any cuts to be made outside of the preplanned field.”
ASK THE HUGHSTON EXPERTS
Robot or Human?
The robotic arm is a tool that assists surgeons. Surgeons perform the operation with the assistance of this equipment, but are in control the entire time. It allows them to position the knee replacement implant in the ideal position to allow for a well-balanced knee that is positioned to allow for the greatest longevity.
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frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Robotic Knee Replacement surgery and conventional knee replacement surgery?
Robotic assisted total knee replacement is superior to traditional knee replacement in that it allows for extreme accuracy, reproducible results, and a quicker recovery.
There are a number of robotic systems out there. Whose system do you use and why do you feel it’s superior to others?
I use the Stryker MAKO robotic arm assisted surgery system. It allows for preoperative planning, balancing and adjusting during surgery, as well as final planned results prior to making any cuts in bone.
How does robotic surgery impact the people of Lebanon/middle Tennessee?
This technology made its way to Lebanon in 2011. I was the first surgeon in Tennessee to adopt and utilize the MAKO technology. With the last 6 years of robotic joint replacement experience, I have done more of these surgeries and over a longer time than anyone else in the state. This has led to Lebanon becoming a medical tourism destination. I have had patients travel from Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Washington DC and several surrounding states to Lebanon, TN for access to this outstanding technology.
Can a Robotic Surgical Procedure Help Reduce Your Knee Pain?
Total knee replacement surgery has been an excellent procedure for many years. Robotic assistance in this procedure has taken lessons learned from traditional total knee replacement and expanded upon our knowledge and allowed for an even quicker recovery than in years past.