Genicular Artery Embolization : New Knee Replacement Technology In 2021
There is exciting news for patients looking for an alternative to knee replacement surgery in 2021. It is a procedure called genicular artery embolization, and it is used to treat osteoarthritis.
A recent study shows that the procedure is effective at significantly reducing patients knee pain, particularly those dealing with moderate-to-severe knee pain. The study showed continued improvement at each of the one-month, three-month, and six-month checkups, which included an MRI scan. Patients felt the increased improvement over time, and the MRI showed it.
Another 2020 study tested 10 patients that received GAE treatment. At the 12-month mark, patients reported:
- Median pain: 15.4% improvement
- Knee/leg function: 21.3% improvement
- Quality of life: 100% improvement
Follow-up tests were completed, namely a six-minute walk and 30-second chair stand test. Scores for walk and chair stand tests improved by 26% and 43% respectively.
No adverse reactions were reported as well.
Stem Cell Knee Replacement Alternative
An interesting medical advancement is the stem cell alternative to knee replacement. In theory, this type of therapy uses the bodys natural healing abilities to repair cartilage damage. The goal is to:
- Slow and repair damage
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Prevent knee replacement surgery
The procedure involves taking blood from the patient, concentrating the stem cells, and injecting those cells into the knee.
At this time, the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology, and the FDA do not recommend this form of treatment. It is considered investigational because there is not enough evidence to prove it is safe or effective. These entities will not endorse a treatment simply based on anecdotal evidence. However, as of August 5, 2020, a new clinical study was underway to test whether stem cells are effective for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
New Implant Technology A New Twist On Knee Replacement
Favorite pastimes come and go. From long hikes to softball or cycling, its common to switch from one interest to another over the years. To be forced to leave favorite activities behind entirely due to knee pain, however, can be a heartbreaker. Unfortunately, this scenario plays out all too often as knee pain due to various forms of arthritis, degenerative joint disease or injury strands formerly active individuals on the sidelines. Stephanie McHale Donvan was one of the sidelined until she found out about a Massachusetts-based company with the power to give back her favorite activities.
Hi, my name is Stephanie. Im 60 years old, Im from Arlington Massachusetts, and I had my right knee replaced with a Conformis custommade knee in 2016. Now Im back to riding my bike, hiking in the woods, and taking my dog for very, very long walks
I was about 51 when the pain started, she recalled. The first twinge happened on Hardings Beach one summer, playing in the waves with my daughter. The pain in my knee became like a giant, gnawing toothache. I felt like I was dragging around a tree trunk of a leg. I couldnt go sledding with my daughter, I couldnt even walk up stairs without pulling myself up by the railing. I went through five years of constant pain, cortisone shots, expensive knee braces, daily ibuprofen and Tylenol, swelling, elevating my leg and telling my daughter constantly, No. Mommy cant do that. I was probably a real drag to be around.
Dont Miss: Whiten Knees Fast
Don’t Miss: What Rebuilds Cartilage In Knees
What Should I Expect From Knee Replacement Surgery
A knee replacement can dramatically reduce the pain caused by arthritis and get you walking and bending your knee again.
However, a knee replacement is not expected to remove all your pain or fully restore your knee movement.
Most knee replacements last more than 20 years, and knee designs and techniques are constantly improving with medical advances.
Joint Injections: Knee Replacement Alternative Gel
Another alternative recommended by doctors and surgeons is gel knee injections, also known as viscosupplementation.
The injectables contain hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in the synovial fluid of the joints. The gel-like substance aids in joint lubrication, reduces inflammation, and promotes bone and cartilage growth.
Knee replacement alternative gel injections have been used for decades and are often a recommended course of action before a doctor recommends surgical therapy. A 2019 study found that newer monoinjections of hyaluronic acid gel can be just as effective as older options that require multiple once-per-week injections. This is great news as it means fewer trips to the doctor, less money out of pocket, and less pain.
Unfortunately, this, too, is often just a temporary solution. If a patient has osteoarthritis, the disease will continue to progress, and eventually surgery will be recommended by the patients doctor.
NSAIDs and gel injections can be effective. Oftentimes, though, they are just temporary solutions.
Don’t Miss: Where Is The Mcl In The Knee
Do Eat A Healthy Diet
Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. However, avoid alcohol after surgery because it retardshealing. Eat whole, unprocessed foods rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Keeping yourself at a healthy weight limits the stress on your knees. If you were overweight before yoursurgery, try a medically supervised weight loss plan to help you lose the weight and keep it off.
Also Check: Bioknee Cost
Knee Replacement Manufacturers Reviews
There are many different knee replacement manufacturers, and each has different reviews. Some of the most popular manufacturers include Zimmer, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker. These manufacturers all have different products, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is important to research each manufacturer before choosing a knee replacement, as some may be more suitable for certain patients than others.
It is critical to select the best device for you and your situation. Implants, as opposed to other types of implants, are designed to function in the same way but with different characteristics. Certain surgical approaches are best used in conjunction with certain devices. All medical devices that are used in the United States must be approved by the FDA, and there are very few recalls. If you are unfortunate enough to be the subject of a recall, you will need to consult with your surgeon. There are several important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to have a knee implant. In order to be successful, an implant must not reject any materials used in its construction and must withstand the same force as a human knee.
Don’t Miss: How Long Can Gout Last In The Knee
Cruciate Retaining Vs Posterior Stabilized
There are two different variations of a TKR. Speak to your doctor about which approach is best for you.
Removal of the posterior cruciate ligament . The posterior cruciate ligament is a large ligament in the back of the knee that provides support when the knee bends. If this ligament cant support an artificial knee, a surgeon will remove it during the TKR procedure. In its place, special implant components are used to stabilize the knee and provide flexion.
Preservation of the posterior cruciate ligament . If the ligament can support an artificial knee, the surgeon may leave the posterior cruciate ligament in place when implanting the prosthesis. The artificial joint used is cruciate-retaining and generally has a groove in it that accommodates and protects the ligament, allowing it to continue providing knee stability. Preserving the cruciate ligament is thought to allow for more natural flexion.
Partial knee replacement , sometimes referred to as a uni-compartmental knee replacement, is an option for a small percentage of people. Far fewer PKRs are performed than TKRs in the United States.
During a PKR, a surgeon removes the arthritic portion of the knee including bone and cartilage and replaces that compartment with metal and plastic components.
What Happens During Total Knee Replacement
Your provider can help explain the details of your particular surgery. An orthopedic surgeon will perform the surgery aided by a team of specialized healthcare professionals. The whole procedure may take a couple of hours. In general, you can expect the following:
Most likely, you will be given spinal or general anesthesia so that youâll sleep through the surgery and wonât feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Or you may receive local anesthesia and a medicine to keep you relaxed but awake.
A healthcare professional will carefully watch your vital signs, like your heart rate and blood pressure, during the surgery.
You may receive antibiotics, during and after the procedure, to help prevent infection.
Your surgeon will make an incision over the middle of your knee, cutting through your skin and underlying tissue.
He or she will remove the damaged portions of your thigh and shin bone, removing a little of the bone beneath as well.
Next, metal implants are placed into the joint space, usually cementing them into the remaining bone.
In most cases, your surgeon will also remove part of the underside of the kneecap.
A plastic spacer is inserted into the space between the metal implants, for ease of movement.
The layers of your skin and muscle will be surgically closed.
Don’t Miss: Do Knee Sleeves Reduce Knee Pain
Zimmer Vs Stryker Knee Replacements
There are a number of different types of knee replacement surgery, and each has its own pros and cons. One of the most common types of knee replacement surgery is zimmer vs stryker knee replacements. Both of these procedures have their own benefits and drawbacks, so it is important to talk to your doctor about which one is right for you. Zimmer knee replacements have been shown to be more durable and have a lower risk of complications, while stryker knee replacements are less invasive and have a shorter recovery time.
Patients and employees of Stryker contributed to the results. In his capacity as CEO of Zimmer Biomet, a 71/100 employee rating is given. This score is a 24% decrease from that of Slykers CEO, Kevin Lobo. Employee Net Promoter Score winner, which was 53 95 / 100 out of 100. This CEO was rated the winner by 24 percent of respondents. This category received a score of 89/100 on a scale of 1-10. It was the overall winner in terms of culture.
How Does The Patient Continue To Improve As An Outpatient After Discharge From The Hospital What Are Recommended Exercises
For an optimal outcome after total knee replacement surgery, it is important for patients to continue in an outpatient physical-therapy program along with home exercises during the healing process. Patients will be asked to continue exercising the muscles around the replaced joint to prevent scarring and maintain muscle strength for the purposes of joint stability. These exercises after surgery can reduce recovery time and lead to optimal strength and stability.
The wound will be monitored by the surgeon and his/her staff for healing. Patients also should watch for warning signs of infection, including abnormal redness, increasing warmth, swelling, or unusual pain. It is important to report any injury to the joint to the doctor immediately.
Future activities are generally limited to those that do not risk injuring the replaced joint. Sports that involve running or contact are avoided, in favor of leisure sports, such as golf, and swimming. Swimming is the ideal form of exercise, since the sport improves muscle strength and endurance without exerting any pressure or stress on the replaced joint.
Patients with joint replacements should alert their doctors and dentists that they have an artificial joint. These joints are at risk for infection by bacteria introduced by any invasive procedures such as surgery, dental or gum procedures, urological and endoscopic procedures, as well as from infections elsewhere in the body.
Dont Miss: Inversion Table For Knee Pain
Read Also: How Long For Knee Replacement To Heal
The Mako System: A Revolutionary Tool For Joint Surgeons
The field of knee replacement surgery has advanced significantly in terms of technology and design. Using the Mako system, a surgical team can more precisely place implants to achieve the most appropriate, balanced positioning. This system can also help to reduce surgical errors while increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
Quest To Eliminate Pain
Boston Childrens Hospital reports there are more than 500,000 meniscal tears in the United States every year.
According to Active Implants, more than 2 million partial meniscectomys are performed worldwide annually in an attempt to alleviate pain.
Agar said in a press release that many people who get meniscal repairs later experience pain. Often, that residual pain is caused by cartilage degeneration from aging or osteoarthritis.
These conditions, which affect quality of life, can eventually lead to the need for knee replacement surgery.
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that a common surgery known as arthroscopic partial meniscectomy accounted for an estimated two-thirds of all orthopedic knee arthroscopy procedures in older patients in 2016 and that this surgery may not even be that effective.
Read Also: How To Relieve Gout Pain In The Knee
Orthopedic Surgeons Have Another Tool For Knee Replacement: Augmented Reality
For people with severe arthritis pain in the knee joints, knee replacement is a viable option to improve their quality of life. Orthopedic surgeons now have a new tool for knee replacement: augmented reality.
With augmented reality technology, a surgeon views data with special smart glasses or a helmet-based visor while maintaining the view of the surgical site. Virtual reality headsets block out users’ vision and give them the sense that they are elsewhere. In that way, augmented reality differs from virtual reality.
“Think of a fighter pilot in a jet who has a visor over their eyes that displays electronic data laid over what they’re seeing in the real world,” says Michael Taunton, M.D., a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement. “This is not the virtual reality your kids use when playing video games with their eyes covered.”
Dr. Taunton says augmented reality represents an advancement beyond computer-assisted approaches. Surgeons collect data from the patient’s leg, enter it into a computer, and use that information to help determine how best to remove the right amount of bone, in the right angle, for the best fit and alignment. Surgeons take their eyes off the patient during surgery to view the computer or cameras.
©2022 Mayo Clinic News Network.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Citation
Explore further
Unicompartmental Partial Knee Replacement
Patients with arthritis affecting only one side of the knee may only need a partial knee replacement. The procedure requires a smaller incision compared to a total knee replacement, which can reduce recovery time.
However, even though the technique is less intrusive, the operation is much more complex. Monogram provides solutions to these difficulties with precise, robotic surgical arms. These navigated assistants use a high-efficiency rotary cutting system to operate precisely in small spaces and around sensitive tissue. 3D mapping gives the surgeon detailed real-time imaging to improve accuracy and avoid unintended errors.
Also Check: What Happens If Your Knee Hurts When You Bend It
New Robotic Assistance Technology For Total Knee Replacement Means Longer
You may be able to push through occasional knee pain with rest and pain relievers, but once youve crossed the point where the pain becomes persistent, you have decreased mobility or range of motion, or you have a grating sensation in your joints, you could be a candidate for total knee arthroplasty , also known as total knee replacement surgery.
CentraStates orthopedists strive to provide a joint replacement that lasts a lifetime, something possible with the support of the ROSA® Knee System. While robotic assistance platforms are nothing new to the healthcare world, the ROSA Knee System is made specifically for joint replacement and CentraState is one of only a few hospitals in New Jersey to offer it.
According to Alan Nasar, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and director of the Total Joint Center of New Jersey at CentraState, the key to a successful knee replacement surgery is a care plan that is customized to the makeup and structure of each patients knee and ensures that:
The ROSA Knee System is a data-driven robotic assistant that helps orthopedists achieve all three of these goals.
mymobility® and a Smart Watch Offer a Leg Up on Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee Replacement Alternatives To Consider
Crunching sounds as you climb stairs, chronic aching and swelling: Knee osteoarthritis is a real pain. If youre suffering with it, you may be considering surgery.
Getting a knee replacement is one approach, but you may not need surgery, at least not right away. And some patients cannot undergo knee replacement surgery for various reasons. Other people with knee pain are too young for a knee replacement the artificial knee is only likely to last 15 or 20 years, after which the person may need revision surgery.
There are several things you can try first, on your own or with a professionals help, that can help with knee pain and even delay the need for replacement.
Arthritis doesnt go away, but there are things you can do to lessen the pain and stay more active.
Dont Miss: How Much Does Aflac Pay For Ambulance Ride
Recommended Reading: Best Doctors For Knee Replacement Surgery
Mako Robotic Assisted Knee Surgery
It may assist surgeons to visualize their pins while the pins are being placed. An intra-operative fluoro system is integrated into the system. It enables direct pin placement on a virtual 3D-CT model. It helps to make Mako robotic-assisted surgery a possibility. This instrument requires six joints, two pulleys, and four electric motors. whereas, the standard Mako arm has only five degrees of freedom.
A prototype kinematic system designed to interface with the standard Mako arm. It includes two driven pulleys with servo motors, two active belts. Lead screw with position sensors allows for the exact positioning of pins. By measuring their position relative to kinematic reference points of the Makos arm. It can accurate pins without being dependent on exact knowledge of the original surgical incision or template.