OKLAHOMA CITY – Bone and Joint Hospital at St. Anthony announced today that it is the first hospital in Oklahoma to acquire the MAKO RIO® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System. The system features a robotic arm that assists the orthopedic surgeon in performing a new, minimally invasive partial knee resurfacing procedure called MAKOplasty®. There are currently only 23 hospitals in the country that offer this technology.

MAKOplasty® is used to treat early to mid-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. This technology offers a more precise and consistent result for partial knee resurfacing. The system provides the surgeon a pre-surgical plan that details the technique for bone preparation and customized implant positioning using a CT scan of the patient’s knee.

During the procedure, the system creates a 3-D, live-action, virtual view of the patient’s bone surface and correlates the image to the pre-programmed surgical plan. As the surgeon uses the robotic arm, its tactile, acoustic and visual feedback limits the bone preparation to the diseased areas and provides for more optimal implant positioning and placement for each individual patient.

MAKOplasty® can be performed to treat osteoarthritis (OA) on two parts of the knee: the medial (inner portion), the patellofemoral (front portion), or both. Most MAKOplasty® patients experience a shorter hospital stay, minimal blood loss, quicker rehabilitation and a smaller scar. In addition, many people are able to return to an active lifestyle within weeks of the procedure.

“MAKOplasty® will allow us to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis at earlier stages and with greater precision. Because it is less invasive and more of the patient’s natural knee remains, the goal is for patients to have more natural knee motion post-operatively,” says Dr. Corey Ponder, an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Bone and Joint.

“Precision is the key in planning and performing partial knee surgeries,” says Dr. Ponder. “For a good outcome you need to align and position the implants just right. Precision in surgery, and in the pre-operative planning process is what this system can deliver.”

For more information on MAKOplasty® contact (405) 979-7700.

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