Robotic total knee replacementPlanned around your anatomy.

A total knee replacement is usually the better choice when arthritis affects more than one compartment of the knee. “I tell patients to think about what their arthritis pain is doing to their life on a daily basis,” says Dr. Akhtar. “If people are unable to do the things that they love doing, those are the people who are candidates for surgery.”

Age alone doesn't decide it. In his words, the decision “has more to do with your symptoms, and less to do with your age.”

1. Scan. A CT scan of your knee is turned into a three-dimensional model of your bones.
2. Plan. Dr. Akhtar uses the model to choose implant size, position and alignment, and to plan how the joint will be balanced.
3. Perform. In the operating room he guides the Mako robotic arm. Its tactile boundaries help keep bone preparation within the planned area, which is designed to protect surrounding bone and soft tissue. The joint is balanced during surgery.

• Faster early recovery. In a study of 80 consecutive patients, robotic-arm assisted total knee replacement was associated with less pain after surgery, less need for pain medication, better knee bend at discharge and a shorter hospital stay than conventional surgery: a median of 77 hours versus 105 hours. Kayani B, et al. Bone Joint J. 2018;100-B(7):930–937.
• Fewer dissatisfied patients. In 1,434 knee replacements at one center, patients who had robotic-arm assisted surgery were less often dissatisfied two years later than patients whose surgery used computer navigation alone: 3% versus 9%. Tay ML, et al. Bone Joint J. 2025;107-B(8):804–812.
• The honest picture. A 2025 review of ten systematic reviews found robotic total knee replacement consistently improves alignment accuracy, and some studies show shorter stays and less early pain. Long-term superiority in function and implant survival is not yet proven. García-Sanz F, et al. J Clin Med. 2025;14(8):2588.

Studies describe groups of patients treated by specific surgeons. Your own result depends on your condition, health and recovery.

Typical milestones described by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Within hours: most patients begin exercising the knee and walk with a walker, crutches or cane soon after.
• Same day or next: some patients go home the same day; others stay overnight.
• First several weeks: plan for help at home with cooking, shopping, bathing and laundry.
• 3 to 6 weeks: most normal daily activities return. Most people drive again at about 4 to 6 weeks.
• Long term: walking, swimming, golf, biking, light hiking and dancing. High-impact activities like running and jumping are generally discouraged.

“Modern hip and knee replacements usually last 15 to 20 years, depending on how you use them,” says Dr. Akhtar.