4/26/2021
PITTSBURGH – UPMC East and UPMC Passavant are now offering robotic arm-assisted total and partial knee replacements with Stryker’s Mako SmartRobotics application, a highly advanced robotic technology. The surgeon-controlled system enables the accurate alignment and positioning of implants.
Like other knee replacement procedures, Mako SmartRobotics may be a treatment option for people with severe pain or stiffness resulting from degenerative joint disease and have not found relief with conservative treatment.
Using a CT scan to build a three-dimensional model, surgeons plan a personalized procedure to ensure correct leg alignment and soft-tissue balance. The Mako system assists in targeting only the affected area of the knee, sparing healthy tissue and ligaments. The precision improves outcomes and may help patients return to active lifestyles faster than traditional surgery.
“Accurate positioning, alignment and balance are vital to the function and lifespan of the replacement implant,” said Michael O’Malley, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at UPMC East. “The robotic arm technology enables surgeons to accurately and safely execute a specifically tailored plan based on specific patient needs in regard to diagnosis and individual anatomy.”
UPMC recently expanded the use of the Mako SmartRobotics system to include hip-related implant procedures at both UPMC East and UPMC Passavant.
This is another example of how UPMC is continuing to expand advanced specialized care close to patients’ homes throughout all of the communities it serves.
