Robert Lupo, MD, at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., is offering patients knee replacement surgery using the Mako System, according to Go Erie.
Here are five things to know:
1. Before using the Mako System, Dr. Lupo noted the national patient satisfaction rate for knee replacement surgery hovers around 80 percent due to problems with alignment and improper sizing.
2. The Mako System allows physician to map out the surgery using a virtual 3-D model based on the patient's CT scan and make adjustments during surgery.
3. While the Mako System adds a short amount of time to the procedure, physicians are then able to install infrared tracking arrays around the knee that send the knee's exact location to the computer system.
4. Since using the Mako System, Dr. Lupo has noticed improvements in the percent of replacements that fit patients. He says now 98 percent of replacements fit patients' knees.
5. The Mako System also eliminates swelling and recovery time in patients and gives them a better range of motion.