The MemorialCare Joint Replacement Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center offers an innovative, new treatment alternative to total knee replacement for some patients with osteoarthritis of the knee when the damage is confined to a particular compartment of the knee.
In the past, partial knee replacement was reserved for older patients who were involved in few activities. Now, with better implants and improved surgical techniques, more patients are being considered for partial knee replacement compared to a few years ago.
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis and a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of joint cartilage. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a cushion between the bones of a joint. With osteoarthritis, the top layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away, allowing bones under the cartilage to rub together.
Total Knee Replacement
The most common surgical knee intervention performed for osteoarthritis is a total knee replacement. During this procedure, the natural joint is removed and replaced with an artificial implant. This treatment option is usually offered to patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee.
Total knee replacement is not always optimal for patients with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis in just one or two compartments of the knee. For patients with partial osteoarthritis of the knee, Mako® Partial Knee Resurfacing may be the more appropriate solution.
Partial Knee Replacement
By selectively targeting the part of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis, our expert surgeons can resurface the knee while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it, often resulting in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional total knee replacement surgery.
Minimally Invasive Approach
Unlike other more invasive procedures, new Mako robotic surgery system at Long Beach Medical Center can preserve natural bone and tissue along with more ideal implant positioning, resulting in a more natural feeling knee after surgery. And since healthy bone is preserved, patients who undergo Mako partial knee procedures may still be a candidate for a total knee replacement procedure later in life if necessary.
Patients who can benefit from Mako Technology typically:
- Experience knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee, under the kneecap or isolated to the outer knee
- Suffer from start up knee pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
- Have tried non-surgical treatments, injections or non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory medication, to ease the pain but they are no longer helping
There are risks associated with any knee surgical procedure, including Mako, and your physician can explain these risks. If your symptoms aren’t responding to non-surgical solutions, you could be a candidate for surgery.
If you would like to learn more about this procedure and whether it is a good treatment option for you or someone you know, call (877) 696-3622 for a list of orthopedic surgeons specializing in Mako Technology.