Albany Medical Center Acquires Advanced Robotic Technology for Hip and Knee Replacements
The Mako surgical robot is now being used for hip and knee replacements at Albany Medical Center. The robot, produced by Stryker, allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with more precision and personalization for each patient’s unique condition. This also reduces recovery times.
“With our addition of the latest Mako robotic system, our team can provide more precise surgical alignment, resulting in a joint that performs better and feels more natural,” said Richard Uhl, MD, surgeon and chair of Albany Medical Center’s Department of Orthopedics. “We are proud to offer our patients this technology that improves their comfort and quality of life.”
Robotic assisted hip and knee replacements utilize a personalized Mako CT scan to accurately visualize each individual patient’s anatomy, including bone spurs, cysts, and other defects encountered in severe joint arthritis. The surgeon uses that information to develop a patient-specific surgical plan, and more accurately size and position the hip or knee implants used. Robotic assisted joint replacement allows for less soft tissue disruption inside the patient’s joint, and has been shown to reduce post operative stiffness, allow improved early range of motion, and a more natural feeling knee replacement.
“The number of total knee replacements in the United States is expected to increase by 85 percent in the next decade,” said Robert O’Leary, MD. “Using the innovative Mako robotic-arm assisted technology with CT-based planning, we can refine our surgical plan to optimize joint alignment and ligament function, leading to a new joint that feels more natural.”
“We are very excited to now be able to offer this technology to our patients,” said Dionisio Ortiz, III, MD. “This is the cutting edge of modern hip and knee replacement, allowing us to position implants with accuracy not possible with traditional instruments. The newer applications for revision surgery are also an important development in our ability to continue to provide world-class orthopedic care to the Capital Region.”
In addition to Albany Medical Center’s latest technology, robotic-assisted joint replacements are available throughout the Albany Med Health System at Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, patients can call 518-489-2666.