Dr. Neel Jain recently became the first surgeon at Chesterton-based Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute to offer robotically assisted knee replacement.

Jain is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. Jain used Mako SmartRobotics to perform the total knee replacement surgery. Compared to traditional manual techniques, Mako offers greater precision, potentially leading to less post-operative pain and shorter recovery times.

“This technology increases surgical accuracy and allows for more precise bone cuts,” Jain said in a press release. “It also minimizes trauma to surrounding tissues and structures, such as ligaments, resulting in a better-balanced knee.”

Prior to surgery, a CT scan of the patient’s knee is used to create a personalized 3D virtual model of the joint. This enables detailed, patient-specific surgical planning. Using the 3D model, the surgeon evaluates bone structure, disease severity, joint alignment and surrounding tissue to determine the optimal implant size, placement and alignment.

In the operating room, Jain guides the robotic arm to remove arthritic bone and cartilage. The technology assists in performing the surgery and creates a virtual boundary, providing tactile resistance to help the surgeon stay within the exact parameters of the surgical plan. Throughout the procedure, Mako delivers real-time data, allowing the surgeon to assess joint movement and ligament tension and make adjustments as needed.

“This level of precision allows me to make the new knee feel more like the patient’s natural joint,” Jain said.