What is a robotic knee replacement?
Mr Edmondson performs robotic knee replacement using two different systems, chosen to suit the patient and the hospital.
CORI, used at Nuffield Health Haywards Heath, is an imageless system, so no CT scan is needed beforehand. Instead, the shape of your knee is mapped during the operation itself, by Mr Edmondson working with the robotic software. The bone cuts are then made using a robotic burr, guided precisely to the plan.
MAKO, used at Montefiore, is a CT-based system. A plan is built from a CT scan taken before surgery, and during the operation a robotic arm helps prepare the bone to that plan.
In both systems, Mr Edmondson remains in control throughout. The robot does not act on its own, whether it’s guiding a burr or an arm, it improves accuracy and gives live feedback on alignment, ligament balance and implant placement.
Ligament balancing is carried out by Mr Edmondson through careful positioning of the implants, rather than by releasing ligaments as in standard jig-based replacement. This is one of the key advantages of the robotic approach.
The implant and the overall goal are the same as in a conventional knee replacement. You can read general background on the operation itself in the NHS guide to knee replacement surgery, which applies to robotic and non-robotic techniques alike.
Why robotic assistance helps
The potential benefits of the robotic approach include improved accuracy, greater bone conservation, better ligament balancing, alignment that is closer to your knee’s own natural alignment, and reduced pain in the early stages of recovery.
Is robotic knee replacement right for me?
- Many people live with knee arthritis for years before seeking help. Typical symptoms include:
- Pain that worsens with activity or at the end of the day.
- Stiffness after sitting or resting.
- Swelling around the joint.
- Difficulty with stairs, kerbs and slopes.
- Disturbed sleep because of night pain.
When these symptoms limit daily life and non-surgical measures no longer help, joint replacement may be considered. Non-surgical options usually come first. These include weight management, structured exercise, physiotherapy, walking aids and pain relief. NICE advises that joint replacement is offered when symptoms substantially affect quality of life and other treatments have not given enough benefit (NICE Guideline NG226: Osteoarthritis in over 16s, diagnosis and management). Mr Mark Edmondson will assess your knee, your X-rays and your goals before recommending anything.
What happens on the day of surgery?
You will have a spinal or a general anaesthetic. The choice is made with the anaesthetist after assessing your health. Surgery usually takes between one and two hours.
Most people stand and walk with support on the day of surgery or the day after. A typical hospital stay is one to three nights. You will then continue your recovery at home with a physiotherapy plan. Before discharge, the team will check your walking, your wound and your pain relief.
Your Recovery, Week by Week
Day 1
Stand and walk with support the same day
Weeks 1-2
Walking aids for the first few weeks as you build up
Weeks 4-6
Return to driving and work varies per person
Months 3+
Fuller activity, guided by a rehabilitation programme suited to you
Risks and honest conversations
Robotic assistance supports precise planning, but it does not remove the risks of surgery, and no operation can guarantee a result. Rather than a list of percentages, Mr Edmondson will talk through the risks that apply to your knee and how each is reduced, so your decision is fully informed.
Patient Story
“Mr. Edmondson was very informative and explained the process from beginning to end I felt in good hands and fully confident that my procedure would be a success.”
Anonymous feedback, Montefiore Hospital
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Clinic Times
Mon
Nuffield Haywards Heath, 8:30-17:30
Tue
Spire Montefiore, Hove, 8:00-17:30
Fri
Nuffield Haywards Heath, 10:30-13:00