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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Discectomy for Back Pain

Spinal discectomy is a procedure that addresses some causes of back pain. Knowing the structure of the back helps to understand how a discectomy may help. Your spine has 24 vertebrae, or bones, that are each cushioned by discs. Intervertebral discs act like shock absorbers for the spine. They have a tough outer ring of tissue that surrounds a soft, jelly-like center. They can become thinner and more prone to problems through repetitive movement, injury or poor posture.

Herniated Discs

When a disc moves out of place, or herniates, surgery may be necessary to relieve the resulting pain on the spinal column caused by the soft, inner gel pushing through the wall of the disc. This procedure is called a discectomy.

Not everyone who has a herniated disc needs surgery. Most patients with this condition can be treated more conservatively through medication and physical therapy. But for some people, discectomy may be recommended if:

Other forms of treatment fail to improve symptoms after six weeks
A disc fragment lodges in the spinal column and presses on a nerve
You have difficulty standing or walking
You have pain that radiates into your buttocks or legs

Discectomy Procedure

Spinal discectomy is usually performed in the hospital under general anesthesia. After the surgeon makes an incision a little longer than 1-inch over the herniated disc:

Muscles and tissue are moved aside to expose the spine.
A small part of the bone that surrounds the spinal column and nerves, called the lamina, is removed to access the herniated disc. This part of the surgery is called a laminectomy or laminotomy.
Small instruments are then used to cut a hole into the disc that is causing the problems to remove material from inside as well as any pieces that may have broken loose. This relieves pressure, and most of the disc remains intact.
The incision is then closed using stitches or staples.

The procedure lasts approximately one hour depending on the extent of disc herniation, patient size and other factors. Patients typically spend one night in the hospital before going home to recuperate.

After a Discectomy

Most patients experience a reduction in herniated disc symptoms following surgery, and physical therapy may help maximize recovery. Exercise and other activities should be resumed gradually:

First few weeks – Walking only
Two weeks after surgery – Bicycling and swimming
Two to four weeks after surgery – Return to work (if you work in an office)
Four to eight weeks after surgery – Return to work (physically demanding jobs such as lifting items or operating machinery that vibrates)

While spinal discectomy can relieve symptoms, it will not stop the process that caused a herniated disc in the first place. To prevent re-injury, limit activities that require considerable or repetitive bending, as well as twisting and lifting. For more information about spinal discectomy, talk with your doctor.