Reclaiming Mobility: How Orange Coast Medical Center’s Robotic Technology is Transforming Knee Replacement

Imagine waking up each morning, dreading the simple act of getting out of bed because of the constant pain shooting through your knee with every step. Tasks that were once effortless ¬ climbing stairs, taking a walk, or even just standing still — now feel impossible, due to the constant discomfort. For countless people, this is their daily reality, where knee pain dictates what they can and can’t do. But there’s hope for a transformative solution.

For many, knee replacement surgery offers more than just relief — it’s a life-changing path back to the pain-free life they once knew — and navigation technology, such as the Mako robotic assisted surgery can bring a new level of precision to standard joint replacement surgery, while also facilitating faster recovery times. With Mako’s advanced technology, the days of living in constant pain can be gone, replaced with a bright future full of pain-free activity and movement.

When to Consult with a Doctor about Knee Problems

Knee pain is any pain in or around the knee joint that can be caused by injuries, mechanical problems, arthritis, and more. It is a common issue, especially for women – who are two to eight times more likely than men to suffer from knee pain or knee injuries – older individuals, and those who engage in physical activities that place strain on the joints continuously.

The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause. Signs and symptoms of knee pain include:

• Swelling, stiffness, or reduced range of motion
• Redness and warmth to the touch
• Weakness or instability
• Popping or crunching noises
• Inability to fully straighten the knee
• Pain that worsens during or after physical activity

For some individuals, their knee pain may respond to over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or non-surgical interventions, such as physical therapy and other types of rehabilitation. However, symptoms that could need surgical intervention include:

• Unstable knees or feeling like the knee is going to give out
• Marked knee swelling
• Obvious deformity in your leg or knee
• Having a fever, in addition to redness, pain, and swelling in your knee
• Have severe knee pain that is associated with an injury

If you have one or more of these symptoms and they have not been relieved from non-surgical treatments, it is important to see a physician right away to prevent further damage so that they can fully assess the knee and determine if you are a candidate for knee replacement surgery.

What Qualifies a Patient for a Knee Replacement?

The expert care team at the Joint Replacement Center at Orange Coast Medical Center provides a specialized experience for patients with hip or knee injuries. The team has developed a program focused on improving the quality of life for individuals undergoing their first joint replacement due to severe or debilitating joint disease.

Physicians carefully assess each patient to determine whether knee replacement surgery is needed. The typical qualifications include:

• Severity of symptoms: Candidates often experience severe pain and stiffness that interferes with daily activities and sleep.
• Ineffectiveness of non-surgical treatments: Patients who have tried physical therapy, medications (prescribed and over the counter), or other treatments without success. 
• Deformity: Deformity in the knees such as bowing in or out of the knee.
• Loss of mobility: A patient not having full range of motion in their knee.
• Damaged to the joint: Advanced arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis that result in damage to the joint.

Based on these issues, knee replacement may be the best option for a patient. With the advanced Mako system, patients will benefit with faster recovery, and fewer overall complications.

What is the Mako System?

The Mako total knee application is a knee replacement treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration. Compared to traditional joint replacement surgeries, orthopedic surgeons using Mako technology, can look at the patient’s full anatomy before operation because of the CT-based 3D bone scan. Mako provides live, direct feedback during the operation that can assist the surgeon during a total or partial knee replacement procedure.

Types of Joint Replacement Surgeries Using MAKO

At Orange Coast Medical Center, patients seeking relief from joint pain can benefit from the advanced MAKO robotic technology, which offers total knee, partial knee, and total hip replacement surgeries.

• Partial Knee Replacement: MAKO allows your surgeons to precisely target and replace only the damaged portion of the knee during Partial knee replacements (also known as unicompartmental knee replacements). The orthopedic surgeon will remove damaged sections of the knee joint and replace them with an artificial joint made of metal and plastic.
• Total Knee Replacement: Total knee replacements (also known as total knee arthroplasty (TKA)) is the most common type of knee replacement procedure and involves replacing all the joint surfaces in the knee for patients with advanced arthritis or joint degeneration. During a total knee replacement, the surgeon makes an incision in the lower end of your thigh bone and upper end of your shin bone, removes those damaged sections, and replaces them with metal and plastic parts. 
• Total Hip Replacement: Total Hip replacement (also known as total hip arthroplasty) is a surgical procedure that alleviates pain from most types of hip arthritis OR degenerative hip diseases (DJD) by replacing the damaged or worn-out hip bone and cartilage and inserting a new artificial hip joint made of plastic, ceramic, or a combination of these materials. 

new artificial hip joint made of plastic, ceramic, or a combination of these materials. 
With these different replacements, the MAKO assists the surgeons in these traditional surgeries by giving them more information about the patient’s anatomy (it may be abnormal) to guide them correctly during the procedure.

The Mako total knee benefits include:

• Enables surgeons to execute precise surgical plans
• Less post-operative pain
• Protects soft tissues and ligaments from damage
• Reduces overall trauma to the knee, resulting in less pain and swelling following surgery
• Allows faster recovery times for patients

This advanced robotic technology is an innovative tool that helps surgeons create a personalized surgical plan based on each patient’s unique anatomy and perform joint replacement surgery with increased accuracy. 

During Mako-assisted surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will use a robotic arm assisted procedure that includes real-time information and images of your joints, allowing for more precise placement of the implant.

What Knee Replacement is Right for Me?

Using the innovative Mako treatment, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement or partial knee resurfacing, selectively targeting parts of the knee damaged by osteoarthritis while sparing any healthy bone and ligaments.

When examined, Orange Coast Medical Center’s team of orthopedic specialists will determine what type of knee replacement is needed based on the unique circumstances, including which parts of your knee are damaged, medical history, age, and your potential recovery.

If your surgeon recommends a Mako-assisted surgery, she or he will refer you for a CT-scan of the knee joint. The CT-scan will be uploaded into the Mako System software, where a 3D model of your knee will be created. This 3D model is used to create a personalized pre-operative plan and to assist the surgeon during your procedure.

A Game Changer for Patients at Orange Coast Medical Center

At the Joint Replacement Center, the Mako robotic-assistance technology represents a significant leap forward in knee replacement surgery. Studies have shown that patients who undergo knee replacements with Mako report higher satisfaction rates, experience less pain, and achieve greater mobility post-surgery.

Traditional knee surgeries often involve an extended recovery period, with patients spending weeks or even months in rehabilitation before they can resume back to their daily activities.

However, with this technology, recovery timelines are often shortened by several weeks compared to conventional surgery. This quicker recovery is especially important for patients who want to regain their mobility and return to daily activities as soon as possible.

MemorialCare Joint Replacement Center at Orange Coast Medical Center is at the forefront of the revolution by offering patients advanced technology that provides personalized, precise, and effective knee replacement solutions.

For individuals living with chronic knee pain, Mako offers hope. With expert physicians at Orange Coast Medical Center and a supportive care team, patients can look forward to reclaiming their mobility and enjoying a new level of confidence and ease.

For furthers questions or to schedule a joint replacement consultation, make an appointment or call (714) 378-7264.