Mako Total Hip is a robotic arm assisted total hip replacement procedure designed for those suffering with inflammatory or non-inflammatory degenerative hip joint disease (DJD).
Using real-time information and images of your hip, your surgeon knows and controls accurate implant placement, which can be difficult to achieve with traditional total hip replacement techniques without a robotic arm.
What is Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)?
Degenerative joint diseases (DJDs) are chronic conditions often resulting in pain and the loss of an active lifestyle and quality of life. There are different types of DJD that can affect the hip, including:
- Osteoarthritis (OA), in which cartilage wears down over time
- Post-traumatic arthritis, which results from a severe fracture or dislocation of the hip
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory arthritis of the joints
- Avascular necrosis (AVN), a condition where the “ball” or femoral head of the hip joint has lost a healthy supply of blood flow causing the bone to die and the femoral head becomes misshaped
- Hip dysplasia, a condition where bones around the hip joint did not form properly, which may cause misalignment of the hip joint
What Causes Degenerative Joint Disease?
The risk of developing symptomatic degenerative joint disease is influenced by multiple factors such as age, gender and inherited traits that can affect the shape and stability of your joints. Other factors can include:
- A previous hip injury
- Repetitive strain on the hip
- Improper joint alignment
- Being overweight
- Exercise or sports-generated stress placed on the hip joint
Mako Total Hip Benefits May Include:
- Accurate placement of your hip implant using the surgeon-controlled robotic arm system, which can reduce the likelihood of hip dislocation
- More consistency in leg length, potentially decreasing the need for a shoe lift
- Decreased risk of the implant and bone abnormally rubbing together – this may improve the lifetime of the implant
Mako Total Hip arthroplasty is designed to achieve a new level of precision using the latest techniques in total hip replacement and is designed to restore mobility and an active lifestyle. If your surgeon determines that you are a good candidate for Mako Total Hip arthroplasty, he or she will schedule a computed tomography (CT) scan of your hip one to two weeks prior to your surgery date. This is used to create your unique surgical plan for optimal implant placement.
Your physician should discuss the specific risks associated with Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery and other treatment options with you. In addition, you should be informed of any pre-operative and post-operative instructions by your surgeon or his or her staff. As a total hip arthroplasty procedure, Mako is typically covered by insurance.