Robotic knee procedure less invasive, less painful
FALL RIVER, Mass. — The pain in Paul Busse's knees got so bad he could not walk down a flight of stairs.
The 64-year-old Assonet resident found ordinary tasks like helping his wife bring groceries into their home nearly impossible. Busse started hearing a clicking in his knee about a year and a half ago and the pain got progessively worse.
Not wanting to live in constant pain, Busse met with orthopedist Dr. Jerald Katz last month. Within five minutes of examining Busse, Katz knew that he would need surgery on both knees.
Instead of enduring the traditional knee replacement, where the recovery time is two months, Katz convinced Busse to try partial knee resurfacing, a less invasive and less painful alternative with a quicker recovery time.
“Because it's done with a computer and a robot, it's much more accurate and much more reproduceable (than traditional surgery),” said Katz. Because the robot arm has a small burr at the tip, not a big saw, the procedure involves a smaller incision, as well as less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a shorter recuperation period.
On April 6, Busse became the first patient to have the procedure done at Saint Anne's Hospital. Utilizing the RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, which allows for precision in performing partial knee resurfacing, Katz performed the procedure called MAKOplasty. The partial knee resurfacing is an innovative treatment option for adults living with early to midstage osteoarthritis in one of the compartments of the knee. During the procedure, the diseased portion of the knee is resurfaced, sparing the patient's healthy bone and surrounding tissue. An implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again.
“It's only been two weeks since I had my surgery and I can walk up and down stairs and I'm able to drive,” said Busse.
According to Wayne Dodwell, director of business development at Saint Anne's Hospital, there are currently 500,000 knee replacements done in the United States annually. That number is expected to climb to 3.8 million by 2030.
“This technology is very timely and appropriate,” said Dodwell. “It will benefit patients greatly who suffer knee pain.”
Katz explained to Busse the benefits of MAKOplasty versus traditional knee replacement, but also confessed that his procedure would be the first he has completed. Busse admitted to being nervous at first, but was reassured by the use of the robotic arm.
“I told Dr. Katz, ‘No disrespect, but I think the robot will do a better job'.”
Since his surgery, Busse has been performing physical therapy at home with Nancy Harrington of Geneva Physical Therapy three times a week working through various knee bending and walking exercices.
Last week, Busse had shown enough progress to begin participating in therapy sessions at Coastal Orthopaedics in Fall River.
“I loved it,” said Katz, who said he has performed many knee replacements the “old-fashioned way.” “It's very exciting. I see the utility of this. I see the application of this expanding to hip replacements and total knee replacements.”