Knee Replacement
It’s Time to Say Good-Bye to Knee Pain
At Saint Joseph Health System, we want you to experience life in its fullest, free of pain and with natural range of motion. That’s why we are proud to introduce the RIO® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System that performs partial knee replacements with exact precision. This procedure is designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis (OA). By selectively targeting the part of your knee damaged by OA, your surgeon can resurface your knee, while sparing the healthy bone and ligaments surrounding it. And, you can get back to life as normal.
RIO Partial Knee Resurfacing can:
- Enable surgeons to precisely resurface only the arthritic portion of the knee
- Preserve healthy tissue and bone
- Facilitate optimal implant positioning to result in a more natural-feeling knee following surgery
- Result in a more rapid recovery and shorter hospital stay than traditional total knee replacement surgery
Unlike other more invasive procedures, the RIO procedure can often be performed through a four- to six-inch incision over your knee with small incisions in both your femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin). Additionally the preservation of your own natural bone and tissue, along with more ideal patient specific implant positioning, may also result in a more natural feeling knee. And since healthy bone is preserved, patients who undergo the RIO Partial Knee Resurfacing may still be candidates for a total knee replacement procedure later in life, if necessary. In some cases, it may be performed on an outpatient basis, depending on what your surgeon determines is the right course of treatment for you.
The RIO procedure is indicated for patients suffering from unicompartmental or bicompartmental knee disease. A total replacement is sometimes necessary if your surgeon discovers during surgery that your knee has more damage than originally seen in the pre-operative X-rays and CT scan.
Your physician can explain the specific risks associated with the RIO procedure and other treatment options with you, along with any pre-operative and post-operative instructions. As a knee arthroplasty procedure, RIO is typically covered by Medicare insurance. Be sure to check with your private health insurers.