Robotic-Assisted Joint Replacement: What Bedford, NH Patients Should Know About Mako Technology
If knee or hip pain has started dictating what you can and can’t do, day to day, you’re not alone, and you have more options than you might think. Advances in surgical technology have changed what recovery from joint replacement can look like, and one of the biggest shifts has been the move toward robotic-assisted surgery. At Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center (BASC) in Bedford, NH, our surgeons use Mako robotic-assisted technology to plan and perform total and partial joint replacements with a level of precision that simply wasn’t possible with traditional techniques alone.
What Is Mako Robotic-Assisted Surgery?
Mako is a robotic-arm assisted surgical system used for hip and knee replacement procedures. Before surgery, your surgeon uses a CT-based scan of your joint to build a personalized 3D model. That model becomes the roadmap for your procedure, allowing your surgeon to plan implant size, positioning, and alignment specifically around your own anatomy, rather than relying on generalized measurements alone.
During surgery, the robotic arm acts as a guide, helping your surgeon stay within the boundaries of that pre-surgical plan. The robotic arm does not perform the surgery independently and does not move on its own; your surgeon is in control at every step. What it adds is an extra layer of precision and consistency, particularly when it comes to implant positioning, which plays a significant role in how a new joint feels and functions over the long term.
Am I a Candidate for Robotic Joint Replacement?
Robotic-assisted joint replacement is most often considered for patients with joint damage from osteoarthritis or other degenerative conditions who have not found lasting relief from more conservative treatments, such as medication, injections, or physical therapy. The best way to know if you’re a candidate is to talk with an orthopedic surgeon, who can evaluate your imaging, your symptoms, and your overall health to determine whether robotic-assisted total or partial joint replacement makes sense for you.
Why Choose an Outpatient Setting for Joint Replacement?
Joint replacement has traditionally meant a multi-day hospital stay, but that isn’t always necessary anymore, especially with the precision robotic-assisted techniques allow for. At BASC in Bedford, NH, eligible patients have their joint replacement performed in a dedicated outpatient surgical center rather than a hospital, which often means:
A more predictable, streamlined surgical day, without the added complexity of a hospital environment
A recovery that begins at home, in a familiar and comfortable setting
A care team focused solely on outpatient surgical patients, rather than juggling hospital-wide demands
Costs that are typically lower than the same procedure performed in a hospital setting
What to Expect: From Consultation to Recovery
Every patient’s timeline looks a little different, but the general path tends to follow the same stages:
- Consultation and imaging. Your surgeon evaluates your joint, discusses your symptoms and goals, and orders the imaging needed to build your personalized surgical plan.
- Surgical planning. A CT-based scan is used to map your joint in 3D, giving your surgeon a detailed plan before you’re ever in the operating room.
- Surgery day. Your procedure is performed using Mako robotic-assisted technology, guided by your surgeon throughout.
- Recovery. Many patients begin walking, with assistance, on the same day as surgery, and continue their recovery at home with a physical therapy plan tailored to their procedure.
Every recovery timeline is different, and your care team will give you guidance specific to your procedure and your health history.
Why Choose BASC in Bedford, NH
Our surgeons and staff at BASC have built our practice around one goal: making sure every patient feels informed, comfortable, and well cared for, from the first consultation through recovery. If joint pain has been holding you back, the first step is simply a conversation. Contact BASC to ask about a referral, or talk to your current physician about whether robotic-assisted joint replacement could be right for you.