In case you have been thinking in terms of a joint replacement surgery for your knee, hip or shoulder, for the best outcomes the surgeon has to do a precise job in terms of making cuts on the bone before implanting the artificial joint in place of the natural one.

According to Dr. Santosh Shetty, one of the best joint replacement surgeons in Mumbai, the two most important factors in the surgery are accuracy and proper joint alignment. However, there are many factors such as initial planning and others that matter later during the surgery that brings about the best results.

The layperson should understand that there is a gap present in your bones when it is bent or straight.  The best joint replacement happens when these gaps are matched and are maintained even after the surgery. Otherwise, the range of motion of the knees will not be as it was before and the patient will experience instability because of loose joints. This subsequently leads to pain.

In case of an improper knee replacement surgery, the kneecaps can have inaccurate rotation because of misalignment that can later develop into major issues during the recovery phase. For these reasons and others, the surgeons have to be extremely careful and accurate when cutting the bone and aligning and placing the implant.

 Tools That Help the Surgeon for Accurate Joint Replacement

Some tools are used by the surgeon during a joint replacement surgery to ensure accuracy and precision to enable perfect replacement. It is only when the surgeons use these tools as they are to be used does the patient have a complete and happy recovery at the end.

• Digital Template for better surgery planning

The surgeon first creates a digital template before the surgery of the joint that is to be operated upon. This gives a precise idea to the surgeon as to the amount of bone or cartilage that is to be removed. Even the cuts to be made are precisely marked. This template, when placed over the joint X-ray gives a clear idea about the artificial joint that is to be sourced. The template enables surgeons to plan the surgery and tells them that the joint is fine for the surgery and indicates the correct size and shape of the implant that is to be used.

• Computer Mapping for precise mapping

Another tool is to navigate the joint using a computer and this map helps to indicate the exact position from where the portion of bone/cartilage has to be removed.

The joint surgeon can pin landmarks on the bones enabling to plan the surgery in a better fashion. Computer-assisted navigation surgery in Mumbai is now being used by Dr. Santosh Shetty, one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in India, for accurate results in joint replacement surgeries.

• Custom-made guides match your anatomy

Customized joints make a better fit during Robot-Assisted joint replacement surgeries. These are made to exactly match an individual patient’s anatomy based on the CT and MRI scans of the joints.

With modern improvements in computer technologies, doctors are capable of generating 3D pictures of the joints soon after a patient undergoes specific preoperative scans. These precise values are then fed into the computer. The doctor uses customized jigs and tools for each patient. This helps to make precise cuts so that the artificial implants make a perfect fit.

• Robotic assistance: Next step toward precision

This is not about robots doing the actual surgery, but about the surgeons being assisted by robots. Typically, it is a robotic arm that helps the surgeon to make the cuts precisely at the pre-decided locations on the bone. This makes for a good joint implant facilitating perfect joint movement in the future.

Whether robot-assisted or not, the procedure is the same in any joint-replacement surgery. The cuts and incisions are the same. It is only that the robotic arm makes them. The surgeon is in control and moves the robotic arm as he would have moved his arm. The surgery is, therefore, conducted with a greater amount of precision.

Bone & Joints 360

Bone & Joints 360 is leading joint replacement hospital in Mumbai with a cutting edge technology offering computer-assisted navigation surgery. Team of orthopedic surgeons at Bone & Joints 360 is led by Dr. Santosh Shetty, one of the experienced & leading Joint Replacement Surgeon practicing in Mumbai since 2001. He also heads The Department of Arthroplasty And Joint Replacement For MPCT Hospital, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai along with many other renowned hospitals in Mumbai. If you are looking for joint replacement surgery with absolute precision, book an appointment with our experts to discuss your treatment options.