Full Knee Replacement Options, Robotic Assisted or Conventional, Which did you choose and Why?

[Mi-Troll]

I'm told that I need a full knee replacement, I was asked which I'd prefer, the robotic assisted or the traditional. Having been asked this by the doctor I thought, how could I answer it. This is my first time receiving a full knee replacement and I've never performed the surgery myself so how could one truly understand which procedure to select without extensive medical research to understand the benefits of one over the other.
If you've had a full knee replacement, which procedure did you choose and why??

 

[bigtiller]

8 years ago, I never had the choice.

 

[Oaktree]

Following this, it's something I'll probably need in the not too distant future.

A colleague of mine's wife had robotic/laser surgery when she had it done, and highly recommended it. Was an outpatient procedure, and she was able to walk out the same day.

 

[mrmikey]

Had both knees done, one a couple years ago, first 15 or so years ago. In person was the only option both times and both times I walked out the next day. Not very gracefully mind you but weight bering, hurt like a muther.
If I was asked I think I'd still go with the in person unless there's some major advantage. What is their reason for robotic?

 

[anomad]

What does the robotic assist do? I've never heard of that.

 

[caver]

My dad held off as his Doc was saying "there's new stuff coming along" but he went too long. He had one knee done first and within a day mom had to put him in a nursing facility for about two weeks. The second was easier as he now had a new knee and mom knew what to expect. After the fact he thinks he should have had them both done, commit to a nursing facility till rehabbed. I believe it was doc doing the surgery.

 

[caver]

What does the robotic assist do? I've never heard of that.

Hands the Doc a shot of whiskey, as needed, to steady his hands. sorry couldn't resist

 

[anomad]

Hands the Doc a shot of whiskey, as needed, to steady his hands. sorry couldn't resist

Well hell, if it would pour me a drink too I'd be knee deep in that solution - LOL!

 

[QRTRHRS]

With robotic, the robot is able to precisely sculpt the bone where as with the doctor doing the sculpting, it is the doctor's experiance doing the sculpting. Do a search. Plenty of info out there. I had robotic back in Dec 2022. No regrets, no issues. I had this vision of a huge cyborg but the device is just a small hand held unit. I was out so I never actually saw it. With some better quality knee pads, my back limits me when doing things like weeding. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I would also add that I had a spinal block. The hospital did keep me overnight which was a good thing as I could not urinate even though it felt like I was going to explode. They had to "cath" me a couple of times.

Overall pain was very minimal mostly just a lot of stiffness. I only took two oxicotin after being discharged.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Dammit.. I read this and thought they had new Bionic Knees

@Mi-Troll... get the Assisted procedure if you can. Should go faster and easier.

 

[WM75Guy]

I had mine done with robotic assist and feel great. I am surprised you were offered a choice. After we received our first robotic device at the hospital I worked for, all our total knees were robotic assisted. The ortho docs wouldn't do it any other way. It may be that one ortho doc still does manual surgery instead of going for training on using the robot.

 

[newbury]

Dammit.. I read this and thought they had new Bionic Knees

@Mi-Troll... get the Assisted procedure if you can. Should go faster and easier.

Yup, visions of Cybermen crossing my thoughts.

 

[EarPlug]

Here is a bunch of videos of robotic knee surgery

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mako+Total+Knee+Arthroplasty

 

[Oaktree]

I had mine done with robotic assist and feel great. I am surprised you were offered a choice. After we received our first robotic device at the hospital I worked for, all our total knees were robotic assisted. The ortho docs wouldn't do it any other way. It may be that one ortho doc still does manual surgery instead of going for training on using the robot.

From what I've heard, there's a much smaller scar with the robotics vs manual. My friend told me his wife has only an 1½-2" scar, my sister had hers done maybe 5-6 years ago and has a nasty looking 6" scar.

 

[Mi-Troll]

What does the robotic assist do? I've never heard of that.

There's many videos of what it is, here's one:

 

[Mi-Troll]

I had mine done with robotic assist and feel great. I am surprised you were offered a choice. After we received our first robotic device at the hospital I worked for, all our total knees were robotic assisted. The ortho docs wouldn't do it any other way. It may be that one ortho doc still does manual surgery instead of going for training on using the robot.

I was surprised as well, how could I possible choose the best way to go, hence the post. I believe he does both, from the more I've read and from the posts, If I'm provided a choice, I'll go with the robotic assisted.

 

[Mi-Troll]

I would also add that I had a spinal block. The hospital did keep me overnight which was a good thing as I could not urinate even though it felt like I was going to explode. They had to "cath" me a couple of times.

Overall pain was very minimal mostly just a lot of stiffness. I only took two oxicotin after being discharged.

Because of a medical procedure that was done years and took years to recover from, still not 100%, the spinal block is one of my major apprehensions, just have a big fear of any done or put in my spine.

 

[mrmikey]

I had the spinal block done on my second, first I was knocked out which is what I wish I had done the second one instead of the spinal.
I felt no pain whatsoever during the operation but I 'woke' up or became conscious twice during the surgery, both times is when the doctor was whaling on the metal joint to imbed it into my bones. It sounded like it would if you were beating a 2 x 4 into place on a wall that was an extremely tight fit. No pain as I said during the operation but it's very disconcerting when you wake up on your back looking at the ceiling and can heard the sound is in time with your vision bouncing.
Not trying to scare anyone off nor am I exaggerating, just telling it like it is.

 

[almega1962]

I'm having a right total knee done on 12/17. My surgeon only does it using the the mako robot. When I asked about it he stated that theres much better outcomes.