Mako Robotic Hip Surgery

If you are one of the many Americans who suffer from hip pain caused by degenerative joint disease (DJD), Saint Alphonsus offers treatment options that can help you stay active and improve your quality of life.

One option is Mako robotic-arm assisted total hip replacement. This may be the right choice for some patients. It’s important to talk with your doctor about all available treatments.

What is degenerative joint disease?

Degenerative joint disease, or DJD, is a common cause of hip pain. It is a long-term condition that affects millions of people. DJD can make it harder to stay active and enjoy daily life. There are different types of DJD, and each can cause hip pain.

How is DJD treated?

Doctors usually start with non-surgical treatment options for hip pain. These can include:

• Resting the hip and avoiding overuse
• Gentle exercise, such as swimming
• Over-the-counter pain medicine

If these treatments do not work, you should talk to your doctor. You may be a candidate for total hip replacement surgery.

What is total hip replacement?

Total hip replacement, also called total hip arthroplasty, is a surgery that replaces a damaged hip joint with artificial parts. These parts include:

• A metal cup with a plastic liner to replace the hip socket
• A metal stem and ball to replace the top of the thigh bone

The goal of this surgery is to reduce pain and improve movement so you can do everyday activities more easily.

What is Mako robotic-arm assisted hip replacement?

Mako is a newer, advanced type of hip replacement surgery. It uses a robotic arm system to help the surgeon perform the procedure with greater accuracy.

This technology allows the surgeon to plan your surgery based on your specific body and hip condition.

How does the Mako system work?

If your doctor thinks this surgery is right for you, you will have a CT scan of your hip one or two weeks before surgery. This scan creates a 3D model of your hip.

Your surgeon uses this model to carefully plan the procedure. During surgery:

• The system provides real-time information
• The robotic arm helps guide the surgeon
• The implants are placed with high precision

Who may be a good candidate?

You may be a good candidate for this surgery if you have:

• Pain when putting weight on your hip
• A limp caused by hip pain
• Pain or stiffness when walking or doing other activities
• Little or no relief from medication or other treatments

If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor.

What can you expect?

Your hospital stay will depend on your surgeon’s plan. Your doctor will also decide what kind of physical therapy you will need after surgery.

Mako hip replacement is usually covered by Medicare. You should check with your insurance provider to confirm coverage.

For more information or to talk to a doctor about this treatment, call 208-302-3500.