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Health Matters: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | 5 L ike a hinge on your kitchen cabinet that becomes loose over time, your knee joint can tire out after years of wear and tear, especially if you play certain sports or do other things that repeatedly stress your knee. That's because the cartilage, a tough tissue that cushions the ends of the bones whenever you bend your knee, gradually wears down. The result can be osteoarthritis, an inflammatory condition that destroys cartilage and sometimes even bone, causing pain, swelling, stiffness and difficulty moving. Osteoarthritis increases with age, but young people also can develop it. It can result from injury, infection or being very overweight. Conservative treatments such as medication and physical therapy often help, but when they no longer work, your doctor may recommend replacing all or part of your worn-out knee with an artificial joint. No two knees are the same, but a new technology, the ROSA Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant, can position your implant more precisely than previous methods, based on your unique anatomy. "The ROSA procedure is appropriate for any patient who needs a total or partial knee replacement," says Nirav Shah, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who has performed many of them at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. "We're pleased to offer this new technology to make knee replacements easier for our patients." MORE PRECISE PLACEMENT During a ROSA procedure, your surgeon is in the operating room with you the entire time. A 3D model of your knee as well as a camera and optical trackers attached to your leg help determine the perfect placement for your new knee joint. There are other robot-assisted knee replacement solutions, but the ROSA has one significant advantage. "With the ROSA system your surgeon, rather than the robot, makes the bone cuts necessary to install the implant," Dr. Shah says. "The robot precisely positions the guide that [holds] the saw, based on your leg's anatomy. We can fine-tune all the cuts until everything is perfect. You get all the advantages of the robot without the disadvantage of some others, which is that the robot, not the surgeon, controls the saw." Another advantage of the ROSA system is that there is less risk of damage to tissue around your knee during surgery than when conventional instruments are used, Dr. Shah points out. In addition, you're more likely to be able to go home the same day as your surgery. "You will have a spinal anesthetic and be asleep during the procedure, but you won't need a breathing tube," he says. FASTER RECOVERY, LASTING RESULTS Recovery is significantly easier in the first four weeks or so after the surgery than after other knee-replacement procedures. "The first six weeks after any knee replacement are difficult, so anything that makes it easier will help you enjoy a significant difference," Dr. Shah says. "Patients need to use a walker or cane less, they use less pain medication and they are generally happier overall with their results." The same is true after three or four months, he adds. Because the new joint is positioned so precisely, it increases the chances of long-lasting positive outcomes. "If your new knee is still fully functional four months after surgery," Dr. Shah says, "the chances are excellent it will not get worse over time." A knee replacement is a quality-of-life surgery that improves your ability to participate in daily and leisure activities with less pain and more enjoyment," he adds. "Any tool that improves the chances the surgery will be precise and effective is a game changer." Make Your Knees Brand-New Again An innovative technology called ROSA Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant is a game changer for knee replacement patients.

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