This knee surgery is cutting recovery times drastically

• May 9, 2019

If you’re looking for a knee surgery option that can help you get back to your normal activities faster, robotic-assisted knee surgery from Phoenix Spine & Joint may be the best option for you. In fact, this type of knee surgery can reduce recovery times significantly for many patients.

How is robotic-assisted knee surgery different from traditional techniques?

Robotic-assisted knee surgery is being used more and more for both partial and total knee replacement surgeries. This surgical procedure is different from traditional knee surgery because a robotic system is used to assist the surgeon. It’s important to be clear that the surgeon is still in charge of the surgery, and the robotic systems do not perform any independent surgical duties.

What is the difference in recovery times?

With traditional knee surgery, there is a significant amount of recovery time. For many patients, a hospital stay of three to five days is often necessary, and the total recovery period often lasts up to three months.

At Phoenix Spine & Joint, our surgical team has been able to reduce these numbers drastically thanks to our robotic-assisted surgical procedures. For example, many of the total knee replacements we perform are done on an outpatient basis, and this means you won’t have to spend days in the hospital. Furthermore, most of our patients fully recover from their knee surgery within six weeks.

How can robotic-assisted knee surgery reduce recovery times?

Knee surgeries performed with assistance from robotic systems have several important benefits over traditional knee surgery methods. One of the biggest benefits is that robotic-assisted knee surgery can decrease the time your recovery takes. There are several reasons this is possible.

One factor that can reduce recovery time is the smaller incisions used in this type of surgery. In traditional procedures, an incision of seven to eight inches was used. With the help of robotic systems, our surgeons are able to use much smaller incisions. For example, many robotic-assisted surgeries can be accomplished with an incision that’s half the size of those used in traditional surgery.

Another factor that can help reduce your recovery time is that robotic systems allow for more precise pre-surgical planning. CT scans are typically done before knee surgery regardless of which method is being used. However, robotic surgery uses those images in a different way. The images are fed into the system prior to surgery, and this allows the robotic system to determine limits for where and how much tissue should be cut. This pre-planning also allows for more accurate removal of damaged tissue.

A third reason robotic-assisted surgery can reduce recovery times is there’s reduced risk to adjacent tissue. The limits these systems set based on CT imagery means our surgeon cannot slip and cut into tissue that isn’t being removed. This helps reduce overall trauma and can translate into a shorter recovery period.

Learn more about robotic-assisted knee surgery at Phoenix Spine & Joint

Here at Phoenix Spine & Joint, our health care team is committed to helping patients find minimally invasive options for your knee pain. We’re always ready to help you learn more about the surgical procedures and other treatment options we offer.

Contact one of our patient care coordinators today for more information or to schedule a free second opinion.