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typically in the 110 degrees of flexion range, according to Dr. Lombardo. After MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing, patients commonly have as much as 145 degrees of flexion in the first month after the operation. Total knee replacement is a major endeavor in every aspect. Typically, patients are in the hospital for as many as five days following surgery. Eight weeks of rigorous physical therapy and medication regimens often bring patients to the point where they feel good, not great, according to Dr. Lombardo. "MAKOplasty offers a partial knee resurfacing option for patients whose osteoarthritis is limited to one compartment of the knee. Instead of moving ahead with a total replacement, we can perform a partial knee resurfacing operation that requires less bone and soft tissue removal and corrects the alignment of the joint. This, in theory, decreases the likelihood of arthritic progression because the joint force is distributed appropriately. The likelihood of long-standing excellent results is much higher with MAKOplasty." — David T. Stamer, MD, orthopedic surgeon and past president of the Medical Staff of Vassar Brothers Medical Center MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing, on the other hand, reduces the severity of every facet of the process. Hospitalization can range from one to three nights. Patients typically can walk the day of surgery, require less physical therapy and have less pain — some do not require pain medication. "Traditional total knee replacement included a stay at the hospital and then admission to a skilled nursing facility or home health care for more intense reha- bilitation," Dr. Stamer says. "Following MAKOplasty, patients can go home in one day instead of three. In the near future, some patients may even go home the same day — that's a huge advantage." A Caring, Compassionate Team T he benef its pat ients reap w it h MAKOplasty are related to the seeds sown throughout the treatment process. A dedicated surgical team — consisting of surgical nurses, surgical technicians, anesthesiologists, surgeons and MAKO specialists — performs MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing procedures regularly and establishes levels of com- fort and expertise with the procedure's nuances. The team's experience and familiarity with the technolog y and the technique help ensure the highest standards of care in the operating room. But even before anesthesia is deliv- ered, patients have already gleaned benefits from other members of VBMC Orthopedic Center of Excellence's joint replacement team. On the same day their preoperative CT scan and workups are scheduled, patients attend a preop- erative surgery class to learn about the entire process in detail. Joint replacement meetings gather surgeons, patients, nurses, discharge planners and social workers in a room to discuss the intricacies of the joint replacement process and construct a discharge plan that includes making appointments for physical therapy and postoperative visits. For patients who require home health professionals, the team makes arrangements for services to be in place when patients return home following the procedure. " These people work as a team to provide orchestrated care while patients are in the hospital," Dr. Lombardo says. "We try to make it feel like they're at home while they're with us for the short period of time. We know that patients are apprehensive when they enter the hospital, so we try to make it as easy for them as possible — like a hotel experience." F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t MAKOplasty and Health Quest's compre- hensive joint replacement offerings, visit www.health-quest.org/ortho. ■ Dr. Schweppe and Lauren Kyle, MS, LMHC, discuss discharge plans with a patient following MAKOplasty. COV ER FE AT UR E 1 0 | Mid Hudson MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M