As a large academic center, we take every aspect of our patient pathway for total hip and total knee patients seriously. The introduction of Mako Total Knee has made a significant difference to our practice thus far. Preliminary data shows considerable advantages to our patients in terms of pain after surgery and in the speed of their recovery.

In this day and age total knee arthroplasty is a tremendous operation, allowing patients to return to a high level of activity.^1,2 But not everybody has an easy recovery from their knee arthroplasty and a proportion of patients are still dissatisfied. Our experience of introducing robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty has been favorable in that the three-dimensional CT-based planning allows us to understand the patient’s anatomy better. 3D CT-based planning, in conjunction with the haptic boundaries, also allow us to address the patients’ needs by fine-tuning the implant position and bony cuts in order to restore soft tissue balance. We are therefore able to undertake a patient specific procedure using tested implants like the Triathlon.

Our workflow continues to evolve and adapt. We are currently undertaking randomized prospective studies to evaluate the effects of using a Mako robotic-arm compared to using standard manual techniques in experienced hands. We are also looking at the effects of anatomical versus neutral mechanical alignment. Our pilot data shows less soft tissue injury after the use of Mako Robotic-Arm Assistance.³ We have also seen more precise bony cuts to plan.⁴ The reduction in soft tissue damage is perhaps partly related to the fact that the saw blade is not allowed to transgress beyond the haptic boundaries defined by the pre-operative plan.³ It is also important that we now do not have to do quite so many soft tissue releases as we can adjust the implant position in the plan to minimize those.⁵ Our preliminary data on this has been published. The MASTI score is now established and can be used by other investigators.³

We have seen that three-dimensional templating more accurately predicts implant sizes than two-dimensional templating,⁴ and also that the access to this technology has led us to use slightly smaller sizes of femoral components and to more reproducibly hit our target for a posterior condylar offset and tibial slope. We have seen a short learning curve. More importantly we have not seen a learning curve in terms of quality of outcome as the alignment, slope, joint line position and component positions achieved in the first ten cases were excellent compared to the pre-op plan.

The most striking results were that early recovery has been quicker compared to a comparative cohort of manual cases. We have seen lower pain scores, less usage of opiate analgesia, a shorter time to straight leg raising and a need for fewer physiotherapy sessions. The patients were able to go home approximately a day earlier and had a greater range of motion when they do so.⁵

Thus far our experience with Mako Total Knee has given us increased confidence in planning and in execution. This technology provides immediate intra-operative feedback and flexibility to change implant positions.⁵ Our data showed that there was less soft tissue damage than with conventional jig-based techniques even in experienced hands.³ Our pilot data showed that there was less pain in the peri-operative period and a quicker early recovery.⁵ Moreover, we have found the use of the Mako Total Knee a tremendous teaching, training and research tool.