Mako for Improved Joint Repair or Replacement

Missouri Delta Medical Center now offers advanced robotic surgical techniques for partial knee, total knee and hip replacement surgery. As compared to traditional joint replacement surgery, Mako is a robotic arm-assisted joint replacement procedure designed for those suffering with degenerative joint disease (DJD). Using real-time information and images of your knee or hip, Dr. Rudy Rodriguez better controls more accurate implant placement, which can be difficult to achieve with traditional total hip, total knee or partial knee replacement techniques without robotic arm assistance.

Mako Partial Knee Resurfacing

Mako Partial Knee Resurfacing is a unicompartmental or bicompartmental knee replacement enabled by robotic arm technology that allows Dr. Rodriguez to perform surgery through a smaller incision as compared to standard manual procedures. Using the robotic arm-assisted system that combines computer imaging with an intelligent instrumentation allows him to precisely place an implant that has been selected for your knee. Mako can be performed through a four to six inch incision over your knee with small incisions in both your femur (thighbone) and tibia (shin). By preserving healthy bone, tissue, and ligaments along with more ideal patient specific implant positioning, the results may be a more natural feeling knee. Since healthy bone is preserved, patients who undergo Mako partial knee procedures may still be candidates for a total knee replacement procedure later in life, if necessary.

Mako Total Knee Replacement Benefits

  • In laboratory studies, Mako Total Knee enabled surgeons to execute their surgical plans more accurately.
  • In a clinical study, Mako protected soft tissue and ligaments from damage.
  • In a clinical study, Mako patients surveyed 6 months after surgery reported lower pain scores than those who received a conventional joint replacement.

Mako Total Hip Arthroplasty Benefits

  • Accurate placement of your hip implant using the Mako robotic arm-assisted system, which can reduce the likelihood of hip dislocation
  • More consistency in leg length, potentially decreasing the need for a shoe lift
  • Decreased risk of the implant and bone abnormally rubbing together – this may improve the lifetime of the implant

Missouri Delta Restores Mobility with Mako

Mako partial knee or total hip arthroplasty is designed to achieve a new level of precision using the latest techniques in joint replacement and is designed to restore mobility and an active lifestyle for those affected by:

  • Osteoarthritis (OA): cartilage covering the end of bone wears down over time
  • Post-traumatic arthritis: results from a severe fracture or dislocation of the hip
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): inflammatory arthritis of the joints
  • Avascular necrosis (AVN): the “ball” or femoral head of the hip joint has lost a healthy supply of blood flow causing the bone to die and the femoral head becomes misshapen
  • Hip dysplasia: bones around the hip joint did not form properly, which may cause misalignment

Dr. Rodriguez will determine if you are a good candidate for Mako partial knee, total knee or total hip arthroplasty. He will schedule a computed tomography (CT) scan of your knee or hip one to two weeks prior to your surgery date. This is used to create your unique surgical plan for optimal implant placement.