NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — It’s one of the most widely done orthopedic procedures- but as many as one in five patients or 20 percent say they still feel chronic pain or are unhappy with the results after knee replacement surgery. Now a new cutting-edge robotic system for knee replacement that may offer patients much better results.
Seventy-five-year-old Sonia Santos is a force of nature, working in Manhattan fulltime, ten years after retirement age.
“I never felt any pain until one day, going home, using my commute in the subway in New York, I stood up and felt a snap in my right knee,” Santos said.
Sonia had severe osteoarthritis. Less than one year after doctors replaced her right knee using traditional knee surgery, vice president of orthopedic surgery, Yair Kissin, MD, FAAOS, of Hackensack University Medical Center recruited Sonia for a clinical trial, testing a cutting-edge new method to replace her left.
Dr. Kissin told Ivanhoe, “We’re actually able to personalize the surgery.”
It’s called T-Solution One Total Knee Application by THINK Surgical. A 3D planning station lets surgeons map out a detailed plan before surgery. Then the doctor uses a robotic bone cutting tool for maximum precision during the procedure.
“Essentially we have a little control lever with an on-off button and the device is cutting before our very eyes what we would normally do with a saw and directly with our hand on the cutting device,” Kissin said.
Santos gave up high heels for blinged-out sneakers. She says both knees feel good, but—
“The left knee is like my natural knee. I don’t feel anything,” Santos shared.
Five hospitals nationwide tested the T-Solution on over 115 patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the technology approval in October 2019.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Executive Producer & Field Producer; Kirk Manson, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: KNEES AS GOOD AS NEW WITH THINK KNEE SURGERY
REPORT: MB #4734
BACKGROUND: Knee replacement or arthroplasty is a common practice in orthopedic surgery and traditional methods provide a 90 percent survivorship. Normally, knee surgery is done with a variety of cutting jigs and guides that help surgeons to place the knee. The surgery involves cutting away damaged bones and cartilage and replacing them with a prosthetic joint made of plastics and metals and is mainly meant to treat those suffering from osteoarthritis pain. This surgery not only relieves pain but also restores functions that made have been limited due to the pain or stiffness.
(Sources: Dr. Yair Kissin, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Hackensack University Medical Center https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/knee-replacement/about/pac-20385276 )
OSTEOARTHRITIS: Osteoarthritis, or “wear and tear” arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis that typically presents in the hands, hips, and knees. This disease causes joint cartilage to break down and change the underlying bone. The usual symptoms are stiffness, pain or aching, swelling, and a lessened range of motion; they tend to develop slowly but increase over time. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by joint injury or overuse, but can also be affected by things like age, weight, and genetics.
(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm )
NEW TECHNOLOGY: With all the advancements in surgery over the years, it may be surprising that many patients are still stuck trying to conform their recoveries and bodies to a one-size-fits-all approach. While surgeons may use guides for alignment and placement, many agree that it is not as accurate as it could be and that a more customized approach would be beneficial for long-term outcomes. The THINK technique allows surgeons to make a detailed pre-operative plan that is verified in surgery, ensuring that everything is matching up to the patient’s personal anatomy. It also allows surgeons to register the patient’s anatomy on a 3D plane to get a comprehensive and holistic view and for machines to assist in more precise cutting and placement.
(Sources: Dr. Yair Kissin, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Hackensack University Medical Center https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/3d-joint-replacement/ )
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
MARY MCGEEVER
MARY.MCGEEVER@HACKENSACKMERIDIAN.ORG
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
