Dr. Richard Katz Offers New Signature Custom Fit Knee Replacement

Posted on: 11/30/2009

Dr. Richard Katz of Northeast Orthopaedics is one of only a few orthopedic surgeons in Albany to offer patients with degenerative knee conditions a revolutionary, custom fit total knee replacement system. Dr. Katz has been performing this highly – advanced, patient specific procedure, using new technology from Biomet.
 
 Until very recently, artificial knee implants were offered with limited sizing options. Now, with the Signature custom fit knee, surgeons can pre – plan and precisely match the size and placement of the implant to each patient’s unique knee anatomy regardless of the patient’s race, size and gender.  This means that surgery can be done more accurately and quickly, with less decision-making required while the operation is in progress.  Further, less bone needs to be removed.

 The new implant system provides a truly “custom fit”, like buying a tailored suit rather than one off the rack.  Dr. Katz says the custom fit knee replacement system comes in a choice of 90 size combinations and works equally well for men and women.  He explains: “The new implant system allows us to make more precise bone cuts, which may result in better fit and alignment.  It also may enable patients to have a quicker, less painful recovery, greater flexion or range of motion, and a more natural – feeling knee.”

 Dr. Katz notes that “As the patient population that qualifies and seeks reconstruction gets younger and more active, the demands for accurate placing and sizing of knee replacements becomes paramount.  This latest technology gives the surgeon the ability to tailor the prosthesis to the patient’s unique disease pattern and can achieve correction of years of wear and tear within the knee.  This gives the patient the best chance of hopefully avoiding future revisions due to accelerated wear.”  Dr. Katz describes the four steps involved in custom fitting the total knee replacement as:

1.) An MRI is performed before surgery to obtain exact measurements of the patients arthritic knee and overall leg alignment;
2.) Next, computer software draws a 3 – D image of the knee and “ corrects” the deformity, creating a model of that knee in its pre – arthritic state;
3.) A 3 – D image of the implant is then “shape matched” to the image of the patient’s knee, helping to determine the implant’s correct size and placement;
4.) Based on the preceding information, special cutting guides are generated for the surgeon’s use during the procedure. The guides are accurate to within a millimeter and indicate precisely where bone cuts should be made to custom fit the knee implant.

 While there is some risk in all surgery, the Signature custom fit knee replacement is designed to minimize risks encountered with traditional or computer – assisted techniques: there may be less time under anesthesia; and no need for an alignment rod in the femur or tibia, which can lead to heart and lung complications, as well as less bleeding.  Patients may also experience less pain post – operatively and throughout their recovery. Most can be off a cane or walker in 2 to 3 weeks and may be able to return to work, driving and normal walking after six weeks.