Robot-assisted knee replacement

During a total knee replacement, all worn-out and damaged parts of the knee are replaced with an artificial joint. In robot-assisted total knee replacement, the same knee prosthesis is used, but it is implanted with the assistance of robotic guidance. This allows for precise placement of the prosthesis in the affected knee.

Every patient who is eligible for traditional knee replacement is also eligible for robot-assisted knee replacement. This means that the knee replacement is intended for patients with knee osteoarthritis, where the quality of life is significantly impacted and non-operative therapies have proven to be ineffective.

A total knee replacement will relieve your pain, improve the range of motion of your knee, and restore the alignment of your leg.

No, the robot is a highly technical instrument that assists the surgeon during the operation. Your orthopedic surgeon makes the decisions during the surgery and places the prosthesis using the robot.

The surgery can be performed under general anesthesia or with a spinal block. The choice is up to you.

During the operation, the front of the knee joint is opened. The video below shows that we first digitally image the shapes of your knee and leg. Based on this image, which precisely captures the specific anatomy of your knee, we first plan the knee prosthesis very accurately. We pay attention to the correct sizing of the prosthesis, the desired tension of the ligaments, and the natural shape of your leg. Once we are satisfied with these values, we can remove the bone with the special handpiece controlled by the robot, with a precision of up to a tenth of a millimeter. This allows us to plan the surgery based on your anatomy and then perform it with great specificity, minimizing the amount of bone that needs to be removed. Many studies show that this leads to faster recovery in the early rehabilitation phase.

You will stay in Medische Kliniek Velsen for one night. On the day of the surgery, you can bear weight on your knee with the assistance of our nurses. The day after the surgery, our physiotherapist will visit you in the morning. Together, you will walk with crutches and receive advice on how to perform your exercises at home. On this day, a follow-up X-ray will be taken, and the compression bandage applied after the surgery will be replaced with a tight stocking. You can go home in the late morning of that day.

You can generally resume your daily activities within six to eight weeks after the surgery. However, be cautious as pain and swelling may still affect your recovery for up to three months after the operation.

Your knee will continue to recover for up to 12 months after the surgery. Scar tissue will heal, and the muscles around the knee will regain their full function. Our team will provide guidance on the necessary physiotherapy to strengthen the knee and restore its mobility. The day after the surgery, you will receive a specific protocol for your home-based physiotherapy to ensure the best possible rehabilitation.

No, the surgery is fully covered by your basic health insurance.

The surgery will be performed approximately 6-8 weeks after the initial outpatient visit.

You can make an appointment through your general practitioner to see Dr. Zuiderbaan in the outpatient clinic. Please ask your general practitioner for a referral to Medische Kliniek Velsen.