SW_Healthy.Living_ZC_011118

8 | January 11, 2018 | 22nd century media Healthy Living
22ndCenturyMedia.com
Ingalls expands robot-assisted surgeries to include
partial knee replacements, as chronicled here
The partial knee replacement
surgery Nicole
Calmes had earlier this
year was not her first rodeo.
She had one on her
left knee five years ago
and knew the drill.
But it was the only robotic-assisted
surgery she
ever had. In fact, it was a
first for UChicago Medicine
Ingalls, too, since
investing in the highly advanced
Mako robotic system.
“It was pretty exciting,”
the 46-year-old Lockport
corrections officer said.
Like Calmes’ other partial
knee five years ago,
orthopedic surgeon Daniel
Weber, MD, performed
this one, too, making him
the very first surgeon to
use the Mako system at Ingalls.
Mako surgery is a newer
approach to joint replacement
that offers unparalleled
accuracy when placing
and aligning a new
joint, and that translates to
a 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, leaving the
healthy bone and ligaments
intact. It begins with
CT imaging of the knee
getting better
never felt
this good
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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 explained.
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
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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.
(Think of a car
out of alignment and how
it leads to rapid tire wear.)
“This helps provide
more accurate placement
and alignment of your implant
and helps minimize
pain after surgery,” Weber
added.
Other benefits 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 is music to
her ears.
“I work in a prison and
wear boots all day on a
concrete floor,” the mother
of five says. “It’s hard on
the joints.”
Especially when one
has bone-on-bone arthritis.
Before her February surgery,
Calmes barely could
walk or take the stairs.
I was like a little kid,
taking the stairs one step at
a time,” she recalled.
Once she is healed, the
former high school track
star said she looks forward
to getting back to the gym.
“I was able to walk on it
the day after surgery with
no problems,” she added.
“I 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.”
Submitted by UChicago
Medicine Ingalls Memorial.
For more information, visit
www.ingalls.org or call (708)
915-7246.
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