Mako® Robotic Joint Replacement Surgery in New Braunfels

Treating Joint Pain With Minimally Invasive Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery

A painful joint can make your movement limited, making living an active life difficult. At Resolute Baptist Hospital, we strive to get you back to your feet as soon as possible using innovative solutions such as our Mako robotic arm-assisted joint surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure that enables surgeons to check the condition of a joint in detail and plan treatment based on the patient’s condition and needs.

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What is Joint Replacement Surgery?

Joint replacement surgery is the removal of damaged or diseased parts of a joint to be replaced with new, artificial components, prostheses or implants. Most joint replacement surgeries are performed on the hips and knees, although other joints such as the ankles, elbows, fingers and shoulders can be replaced.

If you’ve already tried different treatment options to reduce pain, such as medications and physical therapy, to no avail, your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery.

What is Robotic Surgery?

Robotic surgery is a method wherein the surgeon uses a computer to control small surgical tools attached to a robotic arm.

How Does Robotic Surgery Work?

In robotic joint surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions on the patient’s body to insert surgical instruments. The surgeon uses an endoscope to magnify the surgery site during surgery. The robot follows the surgeon’s hand movements as he or she performs the robotic joint replacement surgery.

What is Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery?

Robotic knee surgery is an advanced surgical procedure that allows surgeons to customize a patient’s surgery plan and define the surgery area. At Resolute Baptist Hospital, we have the Mako robotic system technology to help our orthopedic surgeons in New Braunfels perform minimally invasive joint replacement surgery with improved positioning of implant components.

What is the Mako Robotic System?

The Mako robotic system is a technology that helps our orthopedic surgeons in New Braunfels at Resolute Baptist Hospital to perform joint replacement surgery with more accurate implant placement than conventional arthroplasty surgical techniques. Some studies have shown less post-surgery pain, faster recovery and lower dislocation risk with robotic-arm assisted surgery.

The surgeon-controlled Mako robotic platform for the hip and knee is just one of the ways that show Resolute Baptist Hospital’s commitment to advanced technology and enhanced patient experiences and outcomes.

How Does the Mako Robotic System Help in Joint Replacement?

The Mako robotic system does not perform the surgery. It has a robotic arm that orthopedic doctors use to guide and perform surgeries within the predefined area. It helps surgeons fit implants on the joint parts that need to be replaced. This advanced technology also allows your surgeon to adjust the surgical plan as needed during the operation.

How Long Will the Artificial Joint Last?

Artificial joints may last up to 25 years. However, it’s good to note that performance and lifespan can vary per person, depending on your lifestyle. It may also be affected by wear and tear caused by movements. Younger patients may need to have their artificial joints revised at some point in their lifetime.

Conditions and Injuries that May Need a Joint Replacement Surgery

If you have the following conditions and injuries, your orthopedic doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery:

Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage within a joint starts to break down, and the underlying bones begin to change, leading to pain, swelling and stiffness.
Bone tumors are formed when the cells in a bone divide and develop a lump or mass of abnormal tissue.
Osteonecrosis is a bone disease that may cause the death of bone tissues and the joints that surround the bone to collapse.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that may cause joint pain, damage and swelling.
Non-inflammatory or inflammatory degenerative joint disease
Loss of joint cartilage

Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Joint Replacement Surgery

Surgeries can be significant life events, so it’s crucial to prepare yourself physically, mentally, financially and emotionally. Asking the following questions to your doctor or the hospital staff can help you plan your appointment:

What documents or items do I need to prepare before being admitted to the hospital?
What type of anesthesia will I receive?
What type of implants or prosthetics will the surgeon use?
Will this be covered by my health insurance?
How long will the surgery take?
How long will I stay in the hospital?
How long will my recovery take?
How can I manage pain after surgery?

How to Prepare for a Joint Replacement Surgery

Here are some of the things you may need to do to prepare for your minimally invasive joint replacement surgery:

Try to lose weight by watching your food intake or engaging in light exercises if you are obese or overweight. Carrying extra weight could put additional stress on your joints.
Strengthen your upper body. This will be most beneficial if you are advised to use crutches or a walker after the surgery.
Don’t smoke. Smoking may slow down your recovery and may increase your risk for infection.
Don’t drink alcohol at least 48 hours before surgery.
Consider modifying your home to make your life more comfortable and some of your items more accessible after surgery. You may want to hire someone to install assistive items, such as a shower bench, handrails, etc.
Remove items that may cause you to trip or fall, such as electrical cords and area rugs.

What Happens After the Joint Replacement Surgery?

After the procedure, your doctor may require you to stay in the hospital for a few days depending on age, comorbidities or any condition related to the affected joint. Your doctor will also be the one who will give the green light when it is safe for you to go home. If you feel pain or initial discomfort in the replaced joint, don’t panic. This is normal as your body begins recovering, and your muscles are still weak from inactivity.

After the surgery, you may experience pain for up to several weeks, while swelling may last for two to three weeks. It may persist for up to three to six months. Bruising may also occur one to two weeks after the surgery.

Choose Robotic Joint Replacement Surgery in Resolute Health

Whether it’s for robotic knee replacement or hip replacement surgery, Resolute Baptist Hospital uses advanced technology to give you more treatment options that can help you get back the life you deserve sooner than you thought.

Your orthopedic doctor may advise you to undergo specific tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provocative arthrography, pain mapping or other tests to determine if this is the right treatment option for you. Call 830-500-6900 to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.

Find an Orthopedic Specialist

If you need a hip, knee or other joint replacement, count on our experts and technology. Request to see one of our specialists to get a second opinion, or a really good first one.

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Back Pain Causes and Treatments for Osteoporosis

Back pain causes and treatments tend to get more attention as we age. One example is osteoporosis that increases the chances of fractures in our vertebra – the small rectangular bones that make up our backs. About 25 percent of postmenopausal women will have vertebral compression fractures. Fortunately, a minimally invasive technique called kyphoplasty offers relief for many people who suffer pain or have spinal deformities because of vertebral compression fractures.

Back Pain Causes

When vertebra collapse or break, the spine shortens and bends forward. Pain may last for months while the bone continues to collapse. Once the pain goes away, it may indicate that the bone has healed in the collapsed position, creating a deformity in posture. People with vertebral compression fractures also are at greater risk for breathing problems, loss of appetite and difficulty with walking.

Vertebra Treatment

To correct the deformity and relieve pain, your doctor may recommend kyphoplasty. During the procedure, a small tube is placed into the broken vertebra through a tiny incision in your back. Then a device called a “balloon tamp” is inserted into the tube and inflated, which pushes the bone back to its normal height and shape.

Once the bone has assumed its normal shape, the space created by the balloon tamp is filled with bone cement. Throughout the procedure, the doctor watches X-rays for guidance. Kyphoplasty may be performed under local or general anesthetic while the patient lies on his or her stomach.

How to Know if Kyphoplasty Is a Solution

Kyphoplasty is most appropriate within eight weeks of a vertebral fracture. It is not recommended for younger, otherwise healthy people, or for patients whose spinal curvature is caused by conditions other than osteoporosis (such as scoliosis), who suffer from a herniated disk or severe arthritis. Kyphoplasy may be effective in treating bones that are weakened by cancer.

To find out if a patient is a candidate for kyphoplasty, the doctor will order a series of tests. Those may include X-rays, bone scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Some patients who undergo kyphoplasty stay in the hospital overnight, although many go home the same day. The procedure usually provides pain relief and increased movement within 72 hours, and 60 to 100 percent of patients rate their treatment a success. It is important to avoid strenuous activity and lifting heavy objects for at least six weeks.

Usually kyphoplasty is safe and effective, but because it is a surgical procedure, it does carry risks. Those may include a chance of:

Infection where the skin is penetrated.
Cement leaking outside the vertebra (usually not serious unless it moves into a potentially dangerous location like the spinal canal).
Bleeding, increased back pain, numbness or tingling.
Allergic reaction to the contrast dye used to guide the doctor during the procedure.

For more information about treatments for your back pain, please talk with your doctor.