CORI Robotics Assisted Knee Replacement

FAQS

Frequently asked questions about surgical procedures

What’s not included:

• Lab testing before and after the surgery, as needed
• Electrocardiogram (EKG), depending on age. If you had one elsewhere in the past 6 months and it read “normal”, we can forego this expense.
• Imaging costs. X-rays and MRIs can be obtained anywhere.
• Physical therapy services
• Medications you’ll need (oral or IV antibiotic infusions if an infection arises)
• Wound care
• Bracing supplies
• Additional doctor visits (a pre-operative visit with the surgeon, in person, and any required post-op follow-ups after the suture removal to monitor your progress
• Additional surgical intervention if a complication arises
• Additional imaging or hospital care if a blood clot develops

How Do I Know If I Am A Candidate For Robotics-Assisted Knee or Hip Replacement Using The CORI System?

Although each patient must consult with a physician individually, typical knee or hip replacement candidates share the following characteristics:

• Joint pain during activities and sometimes during sleep, which awakens you with pain
• Joint pain that limits activities on more days than not
• Initial joint pain or stiffness caused by activities from a seated position
• No longer finding relief from non-surgical treatment options

Not everyone is a candidate for knee or hip replacement using the CORI Surgical System. Knee and hip replacement surgery is intended to relieve pain and improve joint function. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original knee. There are potential risks with knee replacement surgery, such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear, and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. Individual results will vary. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.

Accurate Implant Placement

Our physicians use the CORI system to perform robotics-assisted partial knee replacement. They chose this technology because it allows them to individualize each patient’s knee replacement surgery and use robotic assistance for accurate results.1
With the CORI system, there is no special pre-operative preparation or post-operative recovery protocol. The CORI system does not perform the procedure; rather, it assists the surgeon by providing accuracy, crucial to the success of the surgery.
1. Lonner, Jess, Moretti, Vince, “The Evolution of Image-Free Robotic Assistance in Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.” The American Journal of Orthopedics, May/June 2016, 249-254. Accessed June 7, 2016

Partial Knee Replacement, Compared To Total Knee Replacement, Offers:1-9

• Improved patient satisfaction
  – 19% of total knee patients do not have their expectations met
  – 94% of partial knee replacement patients have their expectations met
• Lower Post Operative Pain.
• Lower Risk of Complications
• Improved Range of Motion
• Partial knee replacement has been shown to result in a greater range of motion over total knee replacement
• Knee Feels More Normal
• Shorter Hospital Stay
• Faster Recovery Time
• Smaller Incisions; Smaller Scars
• More Options in the Future.
• Partial knee replacement offer more options in the future, where osteoarthritis can advance and further treatment, such as a total knee replacement may be needed
• Smaller Implants
• Most Insurance Plans Cover Partial Knee Replacement. Please call your insurance provider to verify coverage.
• Less Removal of Bone and Cartilage
• No Removal of Good Ligaments
• Collier, Matthew, et al., “Patient, Implant, and Alignment Factors Associated With
• Revision of Medial Compartment Unicondylar Arthroplasty.”, Jour of Arthro, Vol 21 No 6, Suppl. 2, 2006.
  Hernigou, Ph, Deschamps, G., “Alignment Influences Wear in the Knee After Medial Unicompartmental Arthroplasty.”, Clin Orthop Relat Res., Volume 423, June 2004, pp 161-165
• Scott CE, Howie CR, MacDonald D, Biant LC, “Predicting Dissatisfaction Following Total Knee Replacement” J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2010 Sep;92(9):
• Berger RA, Meneghini RM, Jacobs JJ, et al. Results of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty at a minimum of ten years of follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005;87(5):999-1006
• Brown, NM, et al., “Total Knee Arthroplasty has Higher Postoperative Morbidity than Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Analysis,” The Journal of Arthroplasty, 2012
• Hall et al., “Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (Alias Uni-Knee): An Overview With Nursing Implications,” Orthopaedic Nursing, 2004; 23(3): 163-171
• Laurencin CT, Zelicof SB, Scott RD, Ewald FC. Unicompartmental versus total knee arthroplasty in the same patient. A comparative study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991 Dec;(273):151–156
• Repicci, JA, et al., “Minimally invasive surgical technique for unicondylar knee arthroplasty,” J South Orthopedic Association, 1999 Spring; 8(1): 20-7.
• Arthritis of The Knee, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, //orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00212, Accessed 9.5.16

The CORI Surgical System is Not For Everyone

Children, pregnant women, patients who have mental or neuromuscular disorders that do not allow control of the knee joint, and morbidly obese patients should not undergo a robotic-assisted joint replacement procedure.

Knee and hip replacement surgery is intended to relieve pain and improve function.

However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original joint.

There are potential risks with joint replacement surgery, such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear, and infection. These events, though rare, may result in the need for additional surgery.

Longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as the types of activities and weight. This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice.
Consult your physician for details to determine if a Robotic-Assisted procedure is right for you. Our surgical systems are intended to assist the surgeon in providing software-defined spatial boundaries for orientation and reference information to anatomical structures during an orthopedic procedure.
Our robotic-assisted surgical system is indicated for use in surgical knee and hip procedures, in which the use of stereotactic surgery may be appropriate, and where reference to rigid anatomical bony structures can be determined.
These procedures include unicondylar knee replacement (UKR), patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA), and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as well as total hip arthroplasty (THA).
The CORI surgical system is indicated for use with cemented implants only.

The robotic system works in conjunction with the surgeon’s hands to achieve the precise positioning of the knee implant.

Using the CORI robotic-assisted hand piece enables your robotic-certified, board certified and fellowship trained surgeon to plan the surgery accurately intraoperatively, position the implants, and reduce the risk of errors during the procedure, while decreasing the length of time it takes for you to recover and return to your formerly active lifestyle enjoying friends, family, recreation, shopping, and other active leisure activities.

SGSC can accept your Medicare coverage and supplemental insurance for payment for a full/partial robotic knee or hip replacement.

But SGSC also offers outstanding surgical value, with totally transparent, all-inclusive, package pricing of $15,990 for your total knee replacement or $17,985 for your total hip replacement if you are uninsured or are a participant in an employer-sponsored health plan that contracts with SGSC directly.
And, unlike most other robotic systems that are employed around the country, a prior CT scan not required in most cases. That’s because instead of using a CT as a planning tool before surgery, the robotic-assisted technology in both the CORI perform the entire surgery as a “dry run” in minutes before placing your new replacement implant. This avoids additional radiation equal to about 10 cross-country air flights and saves you between $300 and $1200 in pre-operative testing.

Our special-value robotic hip and knee package prices include:

• A 30-year expected* service life hip or knee replacement implant
• the facility and surgeon fees
• your anesthesia fees
• your take home medication if you are visiting from out of town,
  and overnight overnight stay if necessary.

No surprises, just great surgical value! Ask also about our low- or no-opioid pain management options.

WILL MY EMPLOYER OR INSURANCE COMPANY PAY FOR MY ROBOTIC KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY AT ST GEORGE SURGICAL CENTER?

Many of our contracted employers waive plan deductibles and copays and pay for travel (air and hotel) for the patient and one companion.

FINANCING YOUR ROBOTIC KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT

If you need financing, we offer several medical financing options for your surgery package. A $30,000 average household income and at least a 520 FICO score are usually sufficient for approval. Interest rates for this medical expense limited MasterCard are lower than most other programs.

How are follow-up and initial consultations handled?

In-person and telehealth consultations are possible with the surgeon to whom your case is assigned. The initial visit is included in the surgical package and is valued at $375.
We can also obtain the flights from the volunteer pilot nonprofit if you’d like to come for initial and follow-up visits in person. One follow-up visit is included in the surgical package at a value of $175. Any additional visits are charged at the time of service to your credit or debit card.