stairs with a knee that's not back to full strength and make sure a
chair is available with a seat level at least level with the back of the
knee. They confirm that patients' feet can touch the floor when
they're sitting on the edge of their bed, that they cook preplanned
meals to eat during the first few days of recovery and establish a base
camp where they'll have easy access to a phone, computer and televi-
sion remote.
"We require a caregiver to be present for the first 24 hours, prefer
someone is present to assist in their recovery the first 3 days they're
home," says Ms. Scholz.
Patients also meet with physical therapists, who provide a prehabili-
tation program for strengthening the muscles around the knee in the
weeks leading up to surgery and preview the rehab program they'll
begin the day after surgery.
Relying on robotics
Surgeons at the St. Cloud Surgical Center do nearly all of their uni-
knees and total knee replacements with the help of robotic assistance.
The facility invested in a robotic platform 2 years ago and has since
invested in 2 more platforms due to high demand and excellent out-
comes.
Dr. Nessler says 10% to 15% of patients who undergo knee replace-
ment are dissatisfied with the results, experience swelling and pain,
even when post-op X-rays show the implant was properly placed.
"That's due to subtle, low-grade instabilities in the joint, which is a
secondary complication of inaccuracies associated with mechanical
implantation," says Dr. Nessler.
Robotic assistance solves that issue. Dr. Nessler points to the accu-
racy with which he's able to place implants thanks to the technology
guiding him to make exact bone cuts based on 3D pre-op scans of a
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