Over time, the body’s joints naturally suffer from degradation. In some people, this progression is only slightly troublesome—or even not at all. Others experience pain at a level that requires surgical intervention.

Dr. Mohammed Ahmed, Orthopedic Surgeon at Riverside Healthcare, shares how joint replacement surgery has changed over the years and why these advancements are so effective.

Same Surgery, Different Approach

Joint replacement surgery has been around for about 50-60 years. The most common joints that need replacement are the knees and hips, with shoulders at a lesser extent. Per Dr. Ahmed, the actual surgery itself hasn’t changed much, but what has evolved is the way in which the procedure is performed.

“Traditionally, we used to do joint replacements based on manual techniques. What that really means is we would put cutting jigs on the patient’s knee, for example, and then make our cuts, balance the ligaments, and then put the implants in,” he explains. “Now, we have a lot more information using CT scans and MRIs, where we can have data before surgery, during surgery, and after surgery.”

Enter Robotics

Another advancement is the use of robotics. Going off of the imaging studies, surgeons create a plan that’s very specific the patient’s circumstances and then utilize the robot to execute that plan. This leads to better and quicker outcomes, with reduced bleeding and less post-operative pain.

“Some robots actually make the cuts for you so they can be much more precise than a human hand. We have better precision. The other thing the robots can also do is limit how much exposure we necessarily need,” notes Dr. Ahmed. “So, if there are vital structures we need to protect, the robot knows not to go there. Even if you try pushing the robot that way, it will automatically stop you.”

Thanks to the advancements in joint replacement surgery, patients are generally able to return home either the same day or within 24 hours of the procedure. Many are up and walking a few hours after surgery. Outpatient home therapy is highly recommended, to ensure patients are able to get around and that their wounds are healing appropriately.

Discover If Joint Replacement Is Right For You

Typically, patients are encouraged to try conservative treatments first before undergoing joint replacement. “If they’ve tried everything short of surgery, and aren’t getting relief, then we would say they’re a candidate for surgery,” states Dr. Ahmed. Yet, every case is unique.

To get more information about joint replacement, and if it might be right for you, contact the Riverside Healthcare orthopedic department at 815-802-7090 or click here.