WHAT IS KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Knee osteoarthritis is the condition in which the cartilage of the knee joint deteriorates and the damaged surfaces rub against each other, causing swelling, noises, pain and, over time, deformity and restricted movement.
Joint osteoarthritis can be caused by older age, family predisposition, excess weight, overuse, falls, previous accidents and repeated surgery.
While osteoarthritis is mild, deterioration of the joint can be delayed with non-surgical methods such as weight loss, painkillers, physiotherapy and injections into the joint. Bone operations that correct leg alignment and keyhole knee surgery can also prevent deterioration. In advanced osteoarthritis, however, the cartilage is much more damaged and patients' quality of life falls considerably. Patients complain of swelling, noises and pain in the knee, severe leg deformity, not being able to bend the joint enough and, most importantly, no longer being able to do what they used to do. In this situation the only way to restore quality of life is joint replacement of the damaged joint. For this operation to succeed, the prosthesis must be the right size and placed at the correct angles, and the ligament balance must be set well. With advancing technology we use robotic surgery to perform these operations even better. We are excited to be the first centre in Antalya to perform this surgery.
THE METHOD
Robotic (navigated) knee replacement is an advanced technological method used in a limited number of medical centres in the world. We can compare robotic surgery to the road navigation systems we use today: signals from our car are picked up by satellites, the satellite marks the car's position in the system in real time, and the computer combines this information with the map and guides you to the correct address on the screen. In the same way, in robotic knee replacement, three-dimensional transmitters and markers placed on the thigh and leg send the shape of the knee and the position of the hip and ankle to the computer via cameras. The operation is planned using the data provided by the computer. At every step – such as the bone cuts and placement of the prosthesis – the robotic system checks the accuracy of the procedure while the surgeon follows his work on the screen. In short, robotic surgery helps the surgeon achieve a perfect result.
ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD:
- more accurate placement of the prosthesis
- choosing a prosthesis of the right size that fits the bone exactly
- more accurate correction of leg alignment
- longer prosthesis life
- less bone loss
- less blood loss
- a smaller skin incision
- less pain
- reduced risk of embolism (blood clots)
- greater knee bending
- early recovery and faster return to daily life
DISADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD:
- higher cost
- the operation takes 10–20 minutes longer
- it is not preferred in patients with advanced bone loss (osteoporosis).
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace an examination and diagnosis.