Today’s technology allows patients to enjoy faster recovery times than ever. Gone are the days of large incisions, obvious surgical scars, and long hospital stays for many types of bone and joint problems. With computer-assisted joint surgery, Torrance orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Mellano can perform orthopedic surgery on the knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, and more, with a same-day return home from the surgery center.
While open surgery still has its place for treating extensive injuries, at Mellano Orthopedics in Torrance computer assisted surgery has proven successful for many of the following procedures:
With live on-screen computer imaging, Dr. Mellano navigates joint repair and replacement procedures with exceptional clarity and accuracy. Small adjustments to the joint can be made within a fraction of a degree, ensuring proper joint alignment and improved range of motion following surgery.
Most patients are familiar with endoscopy. This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a small camera so your surgeon can see inside the body without making the large incisions that are necessary with traditional open surgery.
Arthroscopy is a type of endoscope camera that is used specifically for the joints. As an orthopedic surgeon in Torrance, Dr. Chris Mellano relies on the arthroscope device every day. Using the latest medical technology, he can view the internal joint structure with extreme clarity and precision. This makes diagnosing and fixing joint problems much easier for your surgeon.
Not only does arthroscopic surgery make the surgeon’s job easier in the operating room, but it also has numerous benefits for the patient. Robot-assisted surgery has the following advantages compared to traditional surgery:
Arthroscopic surgery provides Dr. Mellano with the roadmap to your joints. By seeing your individual joint anatomy magnified on a computer screen, it makes determining the proper placement for knee, hip, elbow, or shoulder joint replacement more precise than ever before.
An arthroscope is a small camera that allows your surgeon to have a crisp, clear view of the deeper joint structures in order to diagnose and fix common joint pain issues. During the examination, a tiny incision is made in the skin near the joint. The arthroscope is a pencil-sized instrument with a small lens and fiber optic light that allows a full view of the joint and surrounding tissue, muscle, and tendons.
The arthroscope is controlled by an orthopedic surgeon during the procedure. The image of the joint is magnified onto a nearby computer screen. Your surgeon assesses what is going on inside the joint, and makes the necessary repairs. Additional incisions may be used to perform the necessary repairs. Patients undergo general or local anesthesia, so there is no discomfort during the procedure. Once the surgical joint treatment is complete, Dr. Mellano removes the arthroscope and closes the incision. Because it is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, patients may return home the same day. Dr. Mellano will advise you of post-operative instructions and wound care to promote a fast recovery.
An arthroscope uses infrared trackers to position the wireless camera with extreme precision. The device is highly accurate, within a fraction of a degree. The trackers transmit the image of what is going on inside the joint onto a computer monitor in the operating room, creating an interactive model of your unique joint anatomy. In robot-assisted joint replacement surgery, Dr. Mellano can replace damaged bone with artificial implants or prostheses to replicate a normal, healthy joint.
Dr. Mellano brings 11 years of orthopedic surgery experience to the table as an established Torrance orthopedic surgeon. He specializes in same-day shoulder replacements, hip replacement surgery, knee replacement, and knee reconstruction, as well as sports medicine and arthritis treatments.
Daily use of arthroscopic camera technology during robot-assisted surgery has made Dr. Mellano an expert in the field. There’s no need to wait to get hip, knee, or shoulder surgery. Modern technology has greatly improved the patient experience so you can get back to living the life you want after surgery.
Dr. Mellano’s mission is to give his patients the freedom to keep doing the activities they love. If you are struggling with joint pain, arthritis, lack of mobility, or joint inflammation, contact Dr. Mellano for a consultation so he can help you get moving again.