SW.LADY_ZB_042717

2 | April 27, 2017 | 22nd Century Media LADY
22ndcenturymedia.com
Ingalls expands robot-assisted surgeries
to include partial knee replacements
The partial knee replacement
surgery Nicole
Calmes had earlier this
year wasn’t her first rodeo.
She’d had one on her left
knee five years ago and
knew the drill, but it was
the only robotic-assisted
surgery she’d ever had.
In fact, it was a first for
Ingalls too since investing
in the highly advanced
MAKO robotic system.
“It was pretty exciting,”
Calmes said.
Like her other partial
knee five years ago, orthopedic
surgeon Daniel
Weber, MD, performed the
surgery, making him the
very first surgeon to use the
MAKO system at Ingalls.
MAKO surgery is a
Dr. Ronald Berger, Chiropractor • Body Bliss Wellness Center
18700 S Wolf Rd, Ste 211 • Mokena, IL 60448
Phone (708) 478-4400 • Fax (708) 478-4402
Partial Knee Replacement: Why Replace What isn’t Broken?
Knees don’t wear out evenly. Sometimes
one part of the knee is perfectly fine
while another part is heavily damaged.
Depending on where the damage is in the
knee, a partial knee replacement may be
the best option to relieve the pain caused
by joint degeneration that hasn’t yet
progressed to all three compartments of
the knee.
“A partial, or unicondylar, joint
replacement resurfaces only the wornout
portion of the joint, either the inside,
outside or kneecap, leaving the rest of the
joint alone,” Weber said.
newer approach to joint
replacement that offers unparalleled
accuracy when
placing and aligning a new
joint, and that translates to
a better-functioning, longer-lasting
knee. Although
the revolutionary technology
is used only for partial
knee replacements for now,
eventually it will expand to
total knees later this year.
With robotic-guided
precision, MAKO allows
a surgeon to carefully target
and resurface the part
of the knee damaged by
osteoarthritis while leaving
the healthy bone and
ligaments intact. It begins
with CT imaging of the
knee before surgery that
enables the surgeon to create
a patient-specific plan.
But unlike other partial
knee systems that stop
there, the MAKO takes it
an important step further.
“The biggest advantage
of the system is that it
gives the surgeon the ability
to fine-tune that plan
during surgery, and then
execute,” Weber said.
This allows for the most
precise alignment of the
new joint, and the most
natural fit and feel for the
patient.
The highly intelligent
MAKO system guides
the surgeon within a predefined
area, preventing
movement outside the
planned boundaries. To
work properly, the components
must be put in with
extreme accuracy. Even
a millimeter or two of tilt
or rotation can dramatically
affect the wear patterns
and longevity of the
components similar to how
a car out of alignment can
lead to rapid tire wear.
“This helps provide more
accurate placement and
alignment of your implant,
and helps minimize pain
after surgery,” Weber said.
Other benefits can include
less blood loss during
surgery and a shorter
hospital stay.
It all adds up to better outcomes
for the patient. And
for Calmes, who stands up
to 16 hours a day at her job,
that’s music to her ears.
“I work in a prison and
wear boots all day on a
concrete floor,” the Lockport
mother of five said.
“It’s hard on the joints.”
It was especially tough
on her because of her
bone-on-bone arthritis.
Before her February surgery,
Nicole could barely
walk or take the stairs.
“I was like a little kid,
taking the stairs one step at
a time,” she recalled.
Once she’s all healed,
the former high school
track star looks forward to
getting back to the gym.
“I was able to walk on it
the day after surgery with
no problems,” she said. “I
Candidates for MAKOplasty partial knee
replacement include patients with arthritis
that affects one part of the knee and who
experience the following symptoms:
Pain while standing or walking short
distances or getting in and out of chairs
Pain with activity, climbing up or
downstairs
Start up pain or stiffness when activities
are initiated from a sitting position
Joint stiffness after getting out of bed
Swelling in one or more areas of the knee
A grating sensation or crunching feeling in
the knee during use
seem to be healing better
this time, and the pain after
surgery wasn’t as bad
either. I’m really happy
with the results so far; Dr.
Weber is the best.”
Weber will be hosting a
free seminar about partial
knee replacements Thursday,
May 4 at 6 p.m. at his
office in Tinley Park, 6850
W. Centennial Drive. To
register, call (708) 915-
7246.
Submitted by Ingalls, 6701
W. 159th St., Tinley Park.
For more information, call
(708) 915-7246 or visit www.
ingalls.org.
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