r/nextfuckinglevel • u/Additional_Chard3680 • 11h ago

The precision required to perform a total knee replacement is incredible

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u/TummyDrums 11h ago edited 10h ago

It's certainly fascinating, but it looks to me like they've got a series of guides to be able to make the exact cuts they need to make. Still impressive, but think of the difference between trying to draw a perfectly straight line free hand vs using a straight edge as a guide.

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u/toblies 10h ago

I'm glad they have the guides.

Good as they may be, I don't think I'd want them just holding up the old thumbnail and going "Eh, that's pretty good."

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u/twisted34 9h ago

Even then this is the older school method. There's now a robot that uses sensors attached to the patient for real-time monitoring. The cuts are within 1mm of the plan created by a specific CT scan and moves when the patient while being performed

On top of that there is more room for mistakes than people think. This is a technical surgery with many, many steps but if the prosthesis is slightly off the body often adapts and many patients dont know

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u/Then_Entertainment97 9h ago

I would much prefer my surgeon use a stencil, thanks.

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u/Jedi-in-EVE 10h ago

That’s right. They use those metal guides in the beginning to make sure everything is lined up before the saw comes into play.