Overview

Knee replacement surgery is not as scary as many people think.

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease of the knee, can happen at any age, because it has many causes. For the most part, however, it is caused by deterioration of the knee joints due to age, and it is mostly found in people aged 50 years or more. As a result, many people think that it is an incurable degenerative disease and leave it untreated until it becomes chronic. People who suffer from primary osteoarthritis may have to turn down visits and activities because pain, stiffness and inflammation are major obstacles to their living. Another category is called secondary osteoarthritis which comes from disease, infection or injury causing trauma and pain in the knee joints.

Knee replacement surgery is recommended when patients have these severe symptoms that could not be better with non-surgical treatments. Surgeons at Phyathai 2 hospital have performed more than 200 cases of knee replacement surgery each year.

There are two types of knee replacement surgery depending on patient's symptoms and conditions

1. Total Knee Replacement also known as Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA/TKR)

It is a surgical procedure to replace damaged cartilage and bone with a prosthesis made of metal on a polyethylene plastic spacer. This procedure is

more common in patients aged over 60 who experienced degenerative joint diseases or leg deformities. After total knee replacement, patients can

gradually resume their usual activities.

2. Partial Knee Replacement also known as Unicompartmental Knee Replacement

This surgical procedure replaces a prosthesis of a specific damaged section of the knee joints. This procedure is more common in younger patients and sportsmen who have a trauma or knee injury.

Total knee replacement surgery is considered the best treatment option after the patient responds poorly to medication treatment and physical therapy. Surgical techniques and artificial joint materials have been developed to be increasingly effective.

Today, in particular, robotic knee replacement has been adopted as a way to help doctors perform surgery more conveniently and with better outcomes.

Benefits and Advantages of Robotic Knee Replacement at Phyathai 2 Hospital

 Safe procedure

 Accuracy

 Personalized planning

 Less complication & blood loss

 Faster recovery

 Enhanced implant longevity

 Abductor canal block program (No general anesthesia)

By relying on data in the surgical robot that millions and millions of joint models from several countries have been compiled, after inputting the patients information, a computer will generate 3D images of the patients knee on the screen. Then the surgeon will be able to rotate and view the image from every angle of the surgical site. After having a clear view of the full picture, the entire surgery will proceed smoothly and precisely.

At the same time, the robot will give warnings and control instruments from moving outside of the planned surgical site. In addition, because of the devices effectiveness that allows for up to 0.5 millimeters of surgical precision, the surgeon can adjust and realign instruments by up to 0.5 degrees. This increases surgical precision and reduces complications from injuries while drastically reducing the surgical time. As a result, the patient also recovers more quickly.

Furthermore, the computer can produce results and measure the surgical outcome right away, therefore the surgeon can realign the knee joint more suitably for the patient, which will benefit the patient after the patient returns to normal living after the surgery.