Your Nurse Navigator

Our Joint Replacement Nurse Navigator guides patients though the entire orthopedic surgery process, from pre-surgery to recovery and rehabilitation.

Learn More About Our Navigation Program

Advanced technology, coordinated care, and customized rehabilitation—so that you can get back on your feet faster.

Knee

Knee injuries can happen in an instant or be the result of a chronic condition like arthritis. In either case, our expert orthopedic team—which includes surgeons, a Nurse Navigator, physical therapists, and more—is committed to guiding you through the diagnostic, treatment, and recovery process.

Middlesex Health was named a Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement by Healthgrades. These awards are earned by exceeding rigorous benchmarks associated with patient survey data and patient outcome data.


Minimally Invasive Methods

Modern, minimally invasive surgical techniques allow orthopedic surgeons to perform knee replacement with greater precision and fewer complications. 

In the past, the traditional partial placement approach to knee replacement left considerable room for error; by using the latest methods, our expert physicians are setting you up for the most successful recovery possible.


An avid golfer and horseback rider, Patty Reilly couldn't continue to live with the awful pain in her knees—it took away her ability to live a normal life. With the help of Middlesex Health, Dr. Terry Reardon, and the NAVIO™ Robotic Surgical System, Patty is back on her feet and looking forward to resuming the activities she loves.

Knee Replacement Patient Guide
Patient Guide 2

Thank you for considering Middlesex Health for your knee replacement surgery. We have built an exceptional program using the most advanced technology, and research designed to exceed your expectations and give you the best outcome. We look forward to your speedy and successful recovery.

Read and download

Navio Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement

The NAVIO™ Surgical System is a robotics-assisted knee surgery platform that adds an extra layer of pre-surgical planning and improved precision for partial and total knee replacement procedures.

Each patient's knee replacement surgery is unique to their own anatomy and implant. The NAVIO™ Surgical System allows your surgeon to ensure that the new joint is placed correctly. This is important because accurate placement lengthens the life of your implant.

Surgical techniques have evolved considerably since the earliest knee implant procedures were performed in 1968. These procedures relied on manual guides, external pins and cutting jigs to remove damaged bone and place the prosthetic implant.

Eventually, more advanced implant positioning techniques were introduced. The new methods involved drilling long rods into the central canal of the femur (thigh bone). These rods provided an attachment point for surgical cutting guides. More recent improvements introduced CT (computerized tomography) scan/MRI image guidance to create an individualized computer-generated surgical plan for each patient.

The NAVIO Surgical System, a robotics-assisted platform that uses CT-free technology for precise implant sizing and positioning without the need for rods, is the latest innovation in the field of knee replacement. It can be used for either a partial or total knee replacement procedure.

The NAVIO™ system offers two important benefits for people undergoing a knee replacement procedure.

  • Limited Radiation Exposure: NAVIO™ allows your surgeon create a highly individualized plan that is specific to the unique shape and motion of your knee. Traditional planning may require CT scans, a series of images similar to x-rays that shows cross-sections of your knee. While other robotic-assisted platforms require CT scans, the NAVIO™ system works without them, meaning you are not exposed to the potentially harmful radiation experienced with this type of imaging.
  • Robotic Assistance: Robotic technology is designed to help your surgeon and may result in more accuracy, giving you better long-term outcomes.

In partial knee replacement, the supporting tissue and ligaments that help stabilize your knee are saved—only the damaged portion of the knee is replaced. This means that healthy cartilage and bone remain intact to help your knee joint move smoothly with the prosthetic implant. Patients with osteoarthritis in only one area of their knee may be candidates for partial knee replacement.

Patients who undergo partial knee replacement often report a 'more normal' feeling knee, less pain, and quicker rehabilitation.

In total knee replacement, the entire knee joint is replaced with a prosthetic implant designed to replicate the shape, motion and stability of your natural knee joint. Total knee replacement is one of the most common procedures performed in all of medicine, with over 600,000 performed in the U.S. every year.

Ninety percent of people who receive a total knee replacement experience a dramatic decrease in knee pain, and an improvement in their ability to perform daily activities.

Important Safety Notes

Individual results of joint replacement vary. Implants are intended to relieve knee pain and improve function, but may not produce the same feel or function as your original knee. There are potential risks with knee replacement surgery such as loosening, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. Patients should not perform high impact activities such as running and jumping unless their surgeon tells them that the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage or loosening may occur if a surgeon's limitations on activity level are not followed.


Disclaimer

Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure including NAVIO-enabled Knee Replacement. NAVIO™ is not for everyone. Children, pregnant women, patients who have mental or neuromuscular disorders that do not allow control of the knee joint, and morbidly obese patients and patients contraindicated for UKR, PFA and TKA should not undergo a NAVIO procedure. Consult your physician for details to determine if NAVIO™ is right for you.

 
References


1. Collier, Matthew, et al., "Patient, Implant, and Alignment Factors Associated With Revision of Medial Compartment Unicondylar Arthroplasty.", Jour of Arthro, Vol 21 No 6, Suppl. 2, 2006.
2. Hernigou, Ph, Deschamps, G., "Alignment Influences Wear in the Knee after Medial Unicompartmental Arthroplasty.", Clin Orthop Relat Res., Volume 423, June 2004, pp 161-165
3. Hall et al., "Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (Alias Uni-Knee): An Overview with Nursing Implications," Orthopaedic Nursing, 2004; 23(3): 163-171.
4. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website, accessed March 7, 2017: //orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00389

All information provided on this website is for information purposes only. Every patient's case is unique and each patient should follow his or her doctor's specific instructions. Please discuss nutrition, medication and treatment options with your doctor to make sure you are getting the proper care for your particular situation. If you are seeking this information in an emergency situation, please call 911 and seek emergency help.

All materials copyright © 2018 Smith & Nephew, All Rights Reserved.

Mako SmartRobotics™ for full or partial knee replacement

Mako

Mako SmartRobotics™ is an innovative solution for many suffering from painful arthritis of the knee. Mako uses 3D CT-based planning software so your surgeon can know more about your anatomy to create a personalized joint replacement surgical plan. This 3D model is used to pre-plan and assist your surgeon in performing your joint replacement procedure.

In the operating room, your surgeon follows your personalized surgical plan while preparing the bone for the implant. The surgeon guides Mako's robotic arm within the predefined area, and Mako's AccuStop™ technology helps the surgeon stay within the planned boundaries defined when the personalized pre-operative plan was created. By guiding your doctor during surgery, Mako's AccuStop™ technology allows your surgeon to cut less to help protect your healthy bone.

It's important to understand that the surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon, who guides Mako's robotic arm during the surgery to position the implant in the knee and hip joints. Mako SmartRobotics™ does not perform surgery, make decisions independently, or move without the surgeon guiding it. Mako SmartRobotics™ also allows your surgeon to adjust your plan during surgery as needed.

 

 

knee

Mako SmartRobotics™ for Partial Knee replacement is a treatment option for adults living with early- to midstage osteoarthritis (OA) that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. Depending on where the arthritis affects the knee, patients may have an implant inserted in any of the following areas:

  • In a unicondylar knee replacement, only one area (or compartment) of the joint is replaced.
  • A patellofemoral knee replacement replaces the kneecap (or patella) and the grove at the lower end of the thighbone (or femur).
  • A bicompartmental knee replacement affects two compartments of the knee – the inside (medial) and knee cap.

 

Mako SmartRobotics™ for Total Knee replacement is a treatment option for adults living with mid to late-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. With a Mako Total Knee replacement, the entire knee joint is replaced, and the surgeon inserts a Triathlon Total Knee implant. With over a decade of clinical history, the Triathlon Knee is different from traditional knee replacements because the single radius design of the Triathlon Knee means that as your knee flexes and extends, there is a constant center of rotation, like a circle.

Your Nurse Navigator

Our Joint Replacement Nurse Navigator guides patients though the entire orthopedic surgery process, from pre-surgery to recovery and rehabilitation.

Learn More About Our Navigation Program