Stryker Mako - Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery

Stryker’s Mako system enables the surgeon to complete a patient specific pre-surgical plan, assessing bone preparation areas and customized implant positioning using a CT scan of the patient’s own knee. During the procedure, the system creates a three-dimensional, virtual view of the patient’s bone surface and correlates the image to the pre-programmed surgical plan. As the surgeon uses the robotic arm, its tactile, auditory and visual feedback limits the bone preparation to the diseased areas and provides for real time adjustments and more optimal implant positioning and placement for each individual patient.

Typical patients suitable for robotic-arm assisted partial knee surgery share the following characteristics:

• Knee pain with activity, usually on the inner knee, under the kneecap or isolated to the outer knee
• Start up knee pain or stiffness when activities are initiated from a sitting position
• Failure to respond to non-surgical treatments, injections or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication

According to Stryker the Robotic-arm assisted partial knee surgery could potentially result in a more rapid recovery and a shorter hospital stay than traditional total knee replacement surgery, as well as a more natural feeling knee following surgery.