Does SSI cover the costs of Robotic Prosthetic Surgery?
In robotic implant surgeries, the cost of the implant material applied to the knee or hip joint is covered by SSI in contracted hospitals. However, SSI does not cover the costs of special materials and robot systems used in Robotic Prosthetic Surgery. Therefore, it differs from classical implant surgeries in terms of pricing.

How is robotic knee replacement surgery performed?
In the first stage of robotic knee replacement surgery, the X-ray and CT images of the patient are uploaded into the system. With the data obtained, the physician plans the size and placement of the knee implant suitable for the patient. During the surgery, the physician makes appropriate, zero-error bone incisions with the help of a robotic arm in accordance with the plan. Ligament balancing, the most important factor affecting success in knee prosthesis surgery, is done with the help of the robot. Thanks to the robot, ligament balance is provided and knee implant is placed in the most appropriate way.

Are all the robots used in Robotic Prosthetic Surgery the same?
No, all robots used in Robotic Prosthetic Surgery are not the same. Most of the robot systems guide the physician using only the navigation system. Most of the robot types with a navigation system are not equipped with a robotic arm. However, the MAKOPLASTY (robotic arm interactive computer system) robotic system is equipped with both a navigation system and a robotic arm system. Thanks to these systems, planning and bone incisions are made without any problem.

What is the most important advantage of MAKOPLASTY Robotic hip replacement surgery?
The robotic hip implant system (MAKOPLASTY) reduces the risk of hip implant dislocation, which is among the most common problems that can be faced after hip replacement surgery. It can also eliminate leg length problems, which are among the other important problems. Thanks to the latest update of the MAKOPLASTY hip replacement system, hip implant dislocations due to post-operative lumbar problems can be prevented by including the lumbar region in the preoperative planning the hip joint.

Is MAKOPLASTY Robotic Prosthetic Surgery performed by a robot?
Robotic Prosthetic Surgery is not performed by robots. Operations are performed by your experienced physician, and the robot guides him or her during surgery.

Does MAKOPLASTY Robotic knee or hip replacement surgery cause severe postoperative pain?
Robotic hip or knee replacement surgery causes less postoperative pain compared to the classical method. This is because it does not involve unnecessary bone or soft incisions, and it is expected to cause less postoperative pain.

What is Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedics System?
Today, there are systems for robotic or navigation surgery produced by several companies. Most of these systems just use the navigation feature. Navigation systems play a guiding role for the surgeon. The navigation system and the robotic arm interactive orthopedic system are not the same thing. The robotic system has both a guiding system and a robotic arm system that limit the margin of error to millimetric ranges during surgery. In our clinic, we use the MAKO Robotic System developed by Stryker as a Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedics System. The MAKO system is equipped with not only a navigation system, but also a special robotic arm developed to ensure correct bone incisions. “Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedics System consists of three main units including a computerized control and guidance module, a camera and a display stand.
What are the differences of the Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedics System from other robotic systems?

• Advanced Special Planning:It allows for an advanced preoperative planning specific to the patient’s anatomy based on a 3-dimensional model created with the CT scan of patient’s joint. With planning, it helps the surgeon position the implant in the most appropriate and correct way suitable for the patient’s anatomy. Thanks to preoperative planning, it ensures preserving more soft tissues in the patient compared to the conventional (classical) method.
• Dynamic joint ligament balancing:In order to ensure the best implant placement, it allows for appropriate physician-controlled joint balancing.  The balancing is controlled by the physician during the surgery, and the most appropriate joint balance is provided for the patient.
• Robotic arm-assisted bone preparation:Thanks to the Haptic Feedback technology, it provides a very accurate and precise bone preparation in the planned area, based on the 3-dimensional model created with the patient’s own CT scan, with no need for incision blocks. Thanks to its advanced haptic feedback technology, it prevents physicians from making wrong and unnecessary incisions.

Thanks to this system, the physician can make a patient-specific plan and perform the surgery accordingly. During surgery, the robotic arm guides the surgeon to ensure correct preparation and placement of the implant sockets. The special robotic arm (Picture 1), which is not available in other systems, ensures correct bone incisions during surgery. Another very important advantage of this system that is not available in other systems is the ability to minimize the risk of hip implant dislocation, especially in cases of hip implant placement because its evaluation process also includes the waist region.

How is Robotic Prosthetic Surgery Performed?

The way of performing the surgery, locations of the incisions, and the type and size of the implant are determined, and fine adjustments are made based on the preoperative CT scan, with the help of special software under the control of the physician. The operation is started in the light of the initial study. The sensors introduce the patient’s real bone structure to the robot, final adjustments are made, and then incisions are made after determining their degrees. The ligament balance is then tried on the patient with both virtual and trial implants. Finally, the necessary final adjustments that the physician deems appropriate are made and the implant is placed.

For the patient, there is no preparation process different from classical preoperative preparations. Robotic devices are designed to enable the physician to move more comfortably during the surgery and cause less damage to the patient’s tissues, allowing for a more comfortable post-operative process.