OPA Surgeons Perform Cutting-Edge MAKOplasty

Drs. Auld, Lee, Wilson, Toomey, and Crutcher are now performing MAKOplasty at Swedish Orthopedic Institute (SOI) – the first facility in the Puget Sound area to perform this new procedure for partial knee resurfacing, designed to treat early to mid-stage osteoarthritis.

Millions of Americans suffer from OA and a large percentage of them are diagnosed when the disease is in the early stages. For many people with chronic knee pain, MAKOplasty could be a viable alternative to total knee replacement or traditional manual partial knee resurfacing. Patients can experience minimal blood loss and have smaller surgical incisions, plus they may have shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery. Many return to an active lifestyle within weeks of the procedure.

Good candidates for MAKOplasty typically have three common characteristics: knee pain with activity on the inner knee, under the kneecap or the outer knee; pain or stiffness when starting from a sitting position; and failure to respond to non-surgical treatments or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, .

“Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide,” said OPA Surgeon Sean Toomey, M.D. “This technology allows us to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis sooner and with much greater precision.”

“The robotic arm provides real-time tactile, auditory and visual feedback,” said OPA Surgeon James Crutcher, M.D. “This helps surgeons accurately balance the knee and correctly position the implants.”

Other OPA physicians will be performing this procedure in the future.

Swedish will hold a free community education session on joint replacement, including MAKOplasty, on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Swedish Orthopedic Institute (601 Broadway, Seattle). To register for this class, call 206-386-2502.