Cullman Regional is the first hospital in central Alabama to offer robotic-arm assisted total knee and total hip replacements with its Mako System. This latest advancement in joint replacement surgery transforms the way total knee and hip replacements are performed.
The demand for joint replacements is expected to rise in the next decade. Total knee replacements in the United States are estimated to increase by 673 percent by 2030, while primary total hip replacements are estimated to increase by 174 percent. Yet studies have shown that approximately 30 percent of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery.
"With Mako, our orthopedic surgeons can provide each patient with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy," said William Smith Jr., MD, Cullman Regional Chief Medical Officer. "Using a virtual 3D model, Mako allows surgeons to create each patient's surgical plan pre-operatively. During surgery, the surgeon can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic-arm ."
The Mako Total Knee application is a knee replacement treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan and identify the implant size, orientation and alignment based on each patient's unique anatomy.